The Ephemera

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After reading Benjamin Franklin's’ “The Ephemera: An Emblem of Human Life”, one could assume that he is making a mockery for how people live their lives. Franklin talks about the ephemera as wise bugs that live their lives to the fullest even though their lifespan is highly limited, which is why Franklin called them “ephemera”, meaning lasting but short-lived. Franklin states “Happy people! … you are certainly under a wise, just, and mild government, since you have no public grievances to complain of, nor any subject of contentions” (Franklin para. 2), which alludes to how the ephemera are living happily while all humans do is complain about political issues. The ephemera do not have to worry about their legacy; instead, they focus on a life well spent. In the passage Franklin states, “Art is long, and life is short!” (Franklin para. 2) comparing …show more content…

The ephemera, like Franklin, has engaged in “political struggles … for the good of [his] compatriot inhabitants” and participated in “philosophical studies” (Franklin para. 2), which can be presumed as Franklin expressing his feelings and questions on life through the ephemera. The ephemera states “what fame will be to an ephemera who no longer exists?” (Franklin para. 3), alluding to Franklins’ doubts to all of the work he has accomplished and its impact on society. This excerpt especially views life as melancholy and bittersweet due to the inevitability of everyones’ demise and that people will be forgotten. Throughout the passage the reader gets the sense of oblivion with what and how they are doing in life. This is especially brought from the quote “what will become of all history… when the world itself … shall come to its end and be buried in universal ruin?” (Franklin para. 3). Overall, Franklin sees the ephemera as a long lasting species that make the most from what little time they

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