Tarun Singh

Lit. and Arts A 72

Franklin's Revolution
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is more than an author's recollection of events
but rather a medium through which a great deal about Franklin is discovered. Franklin
revolutionized the way Americans acted and thought, and did so not through the American
Revolution, but rather by introducing and popularizing a unique way of perceiving the self. This
new idea of perceiving the self was largely based on the ideology that people create and control
their own fate and when glancing over Franklin's life this standard seems to hold true. Although
Franklin believed that an individual controls his/her own destiny, much of his philosophy was
based on what others thought of him. When examining Franklin's autobiography, this apparent
opposition between one's capability to control and define his or her existence and society's
capacity to do the same is evident, as is Franklin's desire to reconcile this tension.
It is perhaps best to first examine the beginning of The Autobiography, where the purpose
of Franklin penning his memoirs is first presented to the audience. Franklin begins by writing:
Dear Son,
I have ever had a Pleasure in obtaining any little Anecdotes of my Ancestors...
Now imagining it may be equally agreeable to you to know the Circumstances of my
Life... I sit down to write them for you... Having emerg'd from the Poverty & Obscurity in
which I was born & bred, to a State of Affluence & some Degree of Reputation in the
World, and having gone so far thro' Life with a considerable Share of Felicity, the
conducing Means I made use of, which with the Blessing of God, so well succeeded, my
Posterity may like to know, as they may find some of them suitable to their own
Situations, & therefore fit to be imitated.1

Unlike the introduction to Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Confessions, which was first published in the
same time frame as The Autobiography (11 years after Franklin wrote his introduction), Franklin
begins by addressing the book to his son and his posterity, whereas Rousseau did not address the
book to a specific audience but rather took the opportunity to declare that he is “...not made like
any that I have seen...”2 Instead of making the argument that he can not be imitated Franklin
uses the introduction to actually encourage imitation, suggesting that his posterity can change
themselves to be more like him when it is in their best interest. Thus an importance is
immediately given to a person's ability to adapt oneself. This ability to change one's person

1 Franklin, Benjamin. The Autobiography and Other Writings. (New York: Penguin Group, 2003), 3
2 Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. Confessions. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2000), 5

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challenges previous definitions of “character” which was interpreted in a more literal sense as
something that is rigid like a stamp and is difficult to modify.3 Therefore, such a suggestion to
change oneself is testament to Franklin's belief that one controls his or her own destiny.
It is also important to notice Franklin's use of the word “I” in the aforementioned
quotation. Instead of thanking God for his success, Franklin attributes himself as the acting force
in the sentence by saying “...he conducing Means I made use of..”. Furthermore, Franklin
communicates that his actions succeeded “..with the Blessing of God,” which turns God into an
observing power rather than an acting one. Thus, through the use of the word “I” as the acting
force, Franklin gives himself more importance in determining his own reality than he gives to
God.
Franklin's decision to place himself as the acting subject in a sentence is further seen
when he writes “I had a tolerable Character to begin the World with, I valued it properly, &
determin'd to preserve it.”4 The word determined denotes coming to conclusion or resolution
after deliberation,5 therefore suggesting that Franklin took an active role in the formation of his
character. Similarly, the sentence suggests that Franklin's ability to value his character properly
allowed him to preserve it, again placing importance on his actions. Unlike the rigid “character”
of a stamp, Franklin recognizes he was born with certain attributes, but it was his own doing that
allowed these attributes to continue to define him.
Although Franklin's language suggests that “character” is something that can be altered
and determined by oneself, Franklin soon after acknowledges that “character” is also determined
by society. This is made evident with Franklin's recollection:
And this Industry visible to our Neighbors began to give us Character and Credit...
the general Opinion was that it (the shop) must fail... but Doctor Baird....gave a contrary
Opinion; for the Industry of Franklin, says he, is superior to any thing I ever saw... This
struck the rest, and we soon after had Offers from one of them...6

This anecdote demonstrates that although Franklin may have been an industrious individual, his
success and the definition of his “character” as an industrious individual was ultimately
contingent upon others recognizing his working habits. This view is echoed with the use of the

3 “Character, v., n.” OED Online, 1989, Oxford University Press, 8 Jan. 2007,
<http://dictionary.oed.com.ezp2.harvard.edu/cgi/entry/50036832>
4 Franklin, 58
5 "determined." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin
Company, 2004. 10 Jan. 2007.
6 Franklin 60

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word “give.” Unlike the aforementioned example, where Franklin was the subject of the
sentence, in this case Franklin takes on a more passive role as he is made the object of the
sentence who is receiving the action, thereby subordinating the importance of his role in the
acquisition of “character.” Similarly the importance of society giving him “character and credit”
is seen with him recognizing the “Effects in my Favor throughout this Relation.”7 In this case it
was the actions of others, although inspired by Franklin's actions, that determined how Franklin
was to be known as a person. However, making judgments about people is not something that is
just limited to others, but is something that Franklin acknowledges doing as well. For instance,
when describing the members of the Junto, a club Franklin and his peers created for “mutual
improvement,” Franklin states “Hugh Meredith, Stephen Potts, & George Webb, I have
Characteris'd before.”8 Once again, the use of the word “I” places Franklin in the active and the
others in the passive. Thereby the anecdote above shows how Franklin is capable of defining the
“character” of others, just as others define his “character.” Thus the The Autobiography presents
a tension between defining oneself and society defining a person.
Rather than just allowing the tension to subsist Franklin makes a conscious effort to
reconcile this disparity between who determines his identity. An attempt to reconcile this tension
is perhaps best demonstrated with Franklin's plan for arriving at “moral perfection.”9 Franklin
systematically creates a list of thirteen “virtues” all of which are explained in a manner which
allows them to be judged by other members of society. Perhaps it is important to recognize that
“virtue” is defined as “Conformity of life and conduct with the principles of morality...”10
However, many of Franklin's thirteen “virtues” take on a more secular role and have no apparent
connections to morality or religion. For instance, Franklin considers “Cleanliness” to be a
“virtue” and suggests that one should “Tolerate no Uncleanliness in Body, Clothes or
Habitation.”11 Similarly, Benjamin Franklin's “virtues” of “Temperance, Silence, and Order”12
are all determined by others' view of Franklin. For instance, in the list of “virtues” there is no
reference to any battles with internal demons. Furthermore, virtues like “Cleanliness” not
typical Judeo-Christian values that would be found in the works of a traditional religious author

7 Franklin, 61
8 Franklin, 59
9 Franklin, 82
10 “Virtue, n.” OED Online, 1989, Oxford University Press, 8 Jan. 2007,
<http://dictionary.oed.com.ezp2.harvard.edu/cgi/entry/50278117>
11 Franklin, 83
12 Franklin, 83

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like John Bunyan: they are “virtues” that focus on the exterior and something that is relatively
easy to judge oneself on and for others to judge as well. This is seen with Franklin's creation of a
diagram to track his violations of these “virtues.” Thus Benjamin Franklin's “virtues” provide an
avenue for him to lessen the tension regarding who defines him by allowing him to control his
outwardly appearance in an attempt to create the best public opinion of himself as possible.
Benjamin Franklin's desire to influence what others think of him is also seen in a more
active sense. For example, upon arriving in Philadelphia on a boat Franklin offers a Shilling for
his passage because “...a Man being sometimes more generous when he has but a little Money
than when he has plenty, perhaps thro' Fear of being thought to have but little.”13 The use of such
a strong word as “Fear” is a testament to the importance Franklin gives to the opinions of others
and how much these opinions can influence his actions. For example, when a person fears public
speaking he or she does his or her best to avoid situations in which public speaking will be
necessary. Similarly, it is logical that Franklin may change his reactions to certain events in
order to avoid being judged by others. Thereby it is no surprise that, according to Franklin
himself, that a person becomes more generous in an effort to influence the opinions of others.
A similar attempt to resolve such tension occurs while Franklin is working in a printing
house in London. According to Franklin:
I (Franklin) began now gradually to pay off the Debt I was under for the
Printinghouse. In order to secure my Credit and Character as a Tradesman, I took care not
only to be in Reality Industrious & frugal, but to avoid all Appearances of the Contrary.14

In this case not only does Franklin take on an active role in trying to alter others' perceptions of
him, but he also creates the situation. Contrary to the example of him paying a Shilling for his
passage, Franklin acknowledges that he himself began to pay off the debt and didn't necessarily
await a situation to present itself. Furthermore, Franklin confesses that avoiding appearances of
not being industrious and frugal was just as important as his desire to actually be an industrious
person. Thus, this attempt to firmly establish himself as a Tradesman seems to be motivated not
by a desire to return the debt owed, but rather to create a positive impression of his handling his
personal affairs. Unlike the attempt to achieve “moral perfection,” this situation is an example of
Franklin playing a role in a situation for the sole purpose of preventing others from making
negative judgments about him.

13 Franklin, 25
14 Franklin, 65-66

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 The Autobiography's theme of tension between what is one's own perception of the self
and others' perception of the self is not a new one, however Benjamin Franklin's approach was
quite unique. Instead of letting this tension persist, Franklin took an active role in making sure
he was in control. Whether it be through his subordinating others, his adaptation of “moral
perfection” or through resorting to playing a role, Franklin made sure that it was he who would
determine his fate, and in turn established a new norm that revolutionized the way Americans
saw themselves and continue to see themselves.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY
Franklin, Benjamin. The Autobiography and Other Writings. New York: Penguin Group, 2003.
Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. Confessions. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.
“Character, v., n.” OED Online, 1989, Oxford University Press, 8 Jan. 2007,
<http://dictionary.oed.com.ezp2.harvard.edu/cgi/entry/50036832>
"determined." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition.
Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. 10 Jan. 2007.
“Virtue, n.” OED Online, 1989, Oxford University Press, 8 Jan. 2007,
<http://dictionary.oed.com.ezp2.harvard.edu/cgi/entry/50278117>