Why Is Benjamin Franklin Not Perfect

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin was not perfect, but foreshadowed the way America is today. In this he writes about himself because although one cannot go back and do life again, one can rewrite the events of it and encourage people. Franklin made many mistakes in his life. By realizing his mistakes and his faults he was able to become a better person and by seeking self improvement. Through the progression of the book, Franklin tells the readers about things he learned through experiences, highlights his achievements, and shows that he is not afraid to work to succeed. Benjamin Franklin was a very intelligent man from start to finish. Since he had a passion for improvement, he did not only improve himself, but he helped improve Philadelphia.

In order to improve himself along with society, he sought moral perfection. In Franklin’s eyes moral perfection was impossible. He thought by creating a plan for 13 weeks it would help to better himself. Throughout The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin there were many themes and symbols that we can compare today with the American society. Some of the themes and ideas were his specific vision of America, education, and wealth. Throughout The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin one will see how Franklin helped shape the idea of the American Dream, which is that anyone can earn anything and prosper, as long as they work to their fullest potential and be honest.
One of the main themes in The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin was the vision of America. In the autobiography America was not yet a country. It was just a vision, meaning the
American Dream had not yet been discovered.

It was a variation of colonies coming together as one and the people who lived in it were very eager for the future. These people were inching at figuring out their rights and were very bold. Franklin believed that it was his position to help figure out what America needed and try to provide most of the fundamentals needed. Industrialization was sweeping the colonies to form a country as a whole. Details like this were very crucial to the American society then and still are now. Without someone like Benjamin Franklin we would not have some of the most important necessities that we have today. Some of these necessities include bifocals, the stove, a three-plate clock, and many more in which we would not be able to get by without these today. By Franklin being so driven to do good for other people, it truly shows what it means to be “American.” In America, people strive for excellence, along with improvements and that is exactly what Benjamin did. He conveys in part one of the autobiography, “My Brother had in 1720 or 21, begun to print a Newspaper. It was the second that appear'd in America, and was called The New England Courant. The only one before it, was The Boston News Letter. I remember his being dissuaded by some of his Friends from the Undertaking, as not likely to succeed, one Newspaper being in their Judgment enough for America” (259). At that time, one newspaper was enough, but imagine there only being one newspaper in

today’s society? To go along with America, there are many other conditions needed, one being education.
Another popular theme in The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is education.

Benjamin Franklin looked at education as something that you have to have a desire for. It should be a privilege and not a right. Franklin saw education as a way to improve oneself and was willing to put in the effort to succeed. Most people view education today as something they have to get, instead of wanting to get it to improve themselves. He even went as far as being the founder of the University of Pennsylvania. He also founded the first public subscription library, which enabled the citizens to expand their horizons of reading and education on different subjects. From the young age of twelve, Ben was working as a printer with his brother. He was a fan of reading all of his life. Whenever he was able to read, he read. A while later, he left his brother’s newspaper company to fulfill bigger dreams. He moved to Philadelphia, where he was editing the Pennsylvania Gazette and publishing it in his own printing shop at the young age of twenty-four. He published the Poor Richard's Almanac, which was a paper written annually about a character “Poor Richard,” who was an uneducated, but a wise philosopher. In part one of the autobiography Franklin said, “From a child I was fond of Reading, and all the little Money that came into my Hands was ever laid out in Books” (254). In today’s society to hear a child say that is very rare. Customary to twenty-first century life, education is very

crucial. In order to even get the smallest job, you need some type of degree. Once one gets the proper education needed to prosper in life, wealth is the next most important concept.
Benjamin Franklin viewed ones wealth as great importance. Franklin was very frugal when it came to money. He thought out how and when he spent the money he earned. Franklin tried to save every dime he made. Franklin said in part one, “[I] propos'd to my Brother, that if he would give me weekly half the money he paid for my Board, I would board myself. He instantly agreed to it, and I presently found that I could save half what he paid me. This was an additional Fund for buying Books” (257). This shows that Franklin dealt with his money according to his needs and wants. He believed that the way someone handles their money, shows their true character. Also, if one is in debt, then one is doing something wrong and should worry. On the other hand, if money is managed correctly and is frugally dealt with, that will convey a sense of honor. Franklin’s idea was that if a person has money, luxurious things should not be bought just to buy them because of income. If one has money, things that are really needed and things that are really wanted should be bought; books in his case. Money is supposed to help make a person set, but having money does not make a person set essentially. As Franklin wrote the autobiography, the reader will see that he became a vegetarian because he did not want to eat what everyone else was eating, but then it turned into a way of saving money. In America’s society today, if one is not frugal about his or her money, then people will end up taking advantage of one another and will not end up anywhere. Current times suggest that money still plays an important role in one’s everyday life.
Everything that Franklin wrote was in light to make America a better place. That is why throughout The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin one will see how Franklin helped shape the idea of the American Dream. The American Dream shows how many possibilities one has to become a successful American. At the time that Franklin lived and in today’s day and age, mostly everything is defined by class structure. America was and still continues to be the land of opportunity for everyone and anyone. Everyone has a chance in life as long as they put an effort in what they do, even if they fail. American Literature can be seen through society, whether it be written decades ago or today and we can look back and see how American Literature foreshadowed today’s world.