Similarities Between Benjamin Franklin And Olaudah Equiano

An autobiography is a story written by the author and describes his or her life experiences. The autobiography written by Benjamin Franklin and Olaudah Equiano written by himself are two autobiographies that are very similar and kind of different from each other. Both authors tell readers about their journeys whether they were good or bad. The authors give off a strong sense of imagery, which makes the readers feel as if they were actually there.

Imagery was used in both of these autobiographies. In chapter two of Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography, he notices that there were canoes were lying on the shore. He also noticed that he saw men that were soaked by the heavy waters. Readers could easily imagine the fact that all of this was happening

while Franklin was explaining this to readers. Equiano has a strong sense of fear, which makes him believe that he see things everywhere. He had a sense of fear when he started talking about God and every time he said his name he would have to trust himself to believe in God. Readers could sense the fear through his lines.
Benjamin Franklin started off as a well-known printer. He was also known as the founding father, a scientist and an inventor. His autobiography was written as an example of the American dream. The American dream was what everyone wanted. The term meant that someone would be very successful. People want equal opportunities in order to be successful.
Olaudah Equiano was also known as Gustavus Vasa. He was a freed slave. His autobiography was written mainly how his life was while being a slave. He also talks about how he came to freedom. Equiano’s autobiography was an American passage meaning it talks about slavery and freedom. He explains his life as a slave to be very difficult and horrifying to watch how other slaves were treated.
In the beginning of both autobiographies they both talk about the importance of the thoughts of others. Benjamin Franklin was more laid back while Olaudah Equiano wanted to be out there. He wanted to make his opinion very important, not only to himself but also to those around him. Benjamin Franklin was the one who wanted to know about everyone, but he also wanted them to know about him. They should know what his accomplishments were.
Both authors were smart. Franklin loved to read and write. Equiano proved to readers that he was smart and disciplined. Their goals were to finish what they started. At one point, Franklin started watching the men work. He did this because he wanted to gain self-knowledge. He learned how the men used the tools so that later on he could use them for his inventions. He basically taught everything he needed to know.
Success was very important to both authors.

Franklin believed that every conversation should be beneficial, and that people should be proud of what they do. Equiano’s discipline is what also made him successful. If you are discipline, you will go far in life; if you work hard, you will succeed.

Both autobiographies can be different in many ways. For example both authors grew up in different life situations. Franklin as well as Equiano grew up in England. Equiano was one of those people that were secluded while growing up. This describes his personality because he was focused solely on himself. Because of this, he did not know what was really going on around him. The world was underdeveloped at that time. His father had a high ranking, and was basically considered royalty. He signified his royalty by marking himself. He had a cut across his forehead.

Franklin wrote his autobiography for his son. His journey was very important to him. His son would benefit from this. He says “I sit down to write them for you”. (Franklin (473) This signifies all of the effort he is putting into his writing. Franklin had a strong belief in God. He says, “And now I speak of thanking God, I deserve with all humanity to acknowledge, that I owe the mention’d happiness of my past life to his kind providence…” (474) This quote shows that he is thankful for all that God has done for

him.
Franklin was a freeholder, which meant that he owned land but was not of noble birth. (474) He had many things to offer. The freehold was about 30 acres of land (474) This showed his wealth. Franklin told readers the he grew up around a lot of family. “He was an ingenious man.” (475) This shows how smart he was.
“At ten years old, I was taken home to assist my father in his business, which was that of a Tallow Chandler and Soap-Boiler. A business he was not bred to, but had assumed on his arrival in New England…” (477) His father left a big job for him. He “dislik’d the trade and had a strong inclination from the sea.” (477) This is how his entire printing career came about. His father played and important role in his career.
“People generally think those memoirs only worthy to be read or remembered which abound in great or striking events.” (Equiano, 675) Equiano wanted to write because he did not want to only explain the history of it all. He wants us to know what it was like during the good times and the bad times. He is not writing his story for his own knowledge, he is doing it so that others can benefit form this. He does not want to become famous off of this.
Like Franklin, Equiano also had a strong belief in God. He believed that it was his faith that gave him the strength he needed to survive. He was waiting on God to grand him the freedom he deserves.
When growing up, Equiano was secluded from the rest of the world. He relied mainly on his sister. They were once separated. She only comforted him. He was the youngest child. Being the youngest child, he always looked to her for knowledge. His sister was probably the most important person to him. He could rely on her because she was all he had.
Equiano was very educated. He focused on where the sun rises and where it sets. This only made him smarter. He was always thinking of ways to make situations better. Equiano was on a ship full of slaves that died each and everyday. At one point, he explained how his father owned many slaves. Being a slave was what separated him and his sister. “The punishments of the slave on every trifling occasions are so frequent, and so well known together with the different instruments with which they are tortured…” (697) This shows that Equiano is really sickened by the way slaves were treated. They were violated and tortured.
Equiano ends his autobiography by “expressing the absolute power and dominion one man claims over his fellow.” His journey to freedom was granted. He went to the office and “acquainted the register with my errand, congratulated me on the occasion, and told me he would draw up my manumission for half price…” (708)
The autobiographies’ of Benjamin Franklin and Olaudah Equiano were both great stories about their personal experiences. They both wanted to make their achievements known so that others can benefit from it and work as hard as they did. Franklin wrote his story for his son and for future generations. Equiano wrote his story for his friends and sister. Both were written for something private but was made to the public to prove a point to readers. They teach readers that they have to believe in themselves in order to break free or be successful. Autobiographies have a unique way of proving a point. These examples make this point known. Both stories are very similar but they have little things that make them different.