The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin seem to prove to everyone how articulate, intelligent and sophisticated this man was. He wrote about the trials he underwent to become the writer he is known as today. He even was so intelligent he sought out to publish in his autobiography what virtues would have you “arriving at the door of moral perfection” (90). He wanted to show everyone that becoming perfect wasn't as arduous as everyone had thought. Benjamin Franklin was true Renaissance Man born at a different time period, Non-Religious and he indeed was being a sharp-witted mind that believed slavery was inhumane. Benjamin Franklin’s three personality traits that he exhibits are exhibited in Frederick Douglass.
The first trait these two men
…show more content…
Douglass thought to be a true Christian, you must treat others right and have proper morals and virtues to life by. They both just thought Religion should not be mixed with who you were. That you should always be a good person regardless of what you believed in. The third trait these two men exhibited was these men persistent in what they believed in. They both believed in Justice. This in fact was one of Franklin’s virtues. “Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty...”(93). In other words he was saying that you should never do bad to others no matter the case. This may have been Benjamin’s strongest trait because he was a stubborn man. He was a firm believer in treating everyone fair. Frederick had the same trait where he thought treating people unfairly (especially black/slaves/women) was injustice to humanity. He did fight against these barbaric judicial powers and fought for civil rights. Frederick was also stubborn as well. For the rest of these men's’ lives they did live with these traits and are well known now a days for them.
In brief, these men had strong characteristics but shared these traits the most. But unique and alike in the same way, they help build America’s Political and Social standards in their lifetime. Benjamin was a man known for his many talents and Frederick Douglass was a man known as a great
Thesis: In his autobiography, Franklin is undoubtedly concerned with developing virtue and self-improvement, but relies on others as the primary frame of reference for his own progress, always measuring himself with others. This habit of comparison results in the development of vices as well as virtues.
Frederick Douglass was one of the most influential men of the anti-slavery movement. He stood up for what he believed in, fought hard to get where he got and never let someone tell him he could not do something. Frederick Douglass made a change in this country that will always be remembered.
Successful, self-educated abolitionists Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington fought tirelessly to eradicate slavery. Born into slavery, Douglass and Washington shared the belief of equality, but differed on the manner in which it would be achieved. Douglass’s philosophy was “agitate!, agitate!, agitate!” whereas, Washington was of the ‘work!, work!, work!” mindset.
They both approached their story with a "rags-to-riches" idea. In addition, we must realize that both Franklin and Douglass are powerful writers. In that sense, I
Their background, of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass that two people have been of great value education and have appreciated their situation is in this way, their life was almost the same in childhood that both were birthed and have increased poverty, life has yet learned how to abide upward, to be self supporting and reach higher and be distinct in their professions
Martin Luther King Jr. and Frederick Douglass both were African Americans who were faced with the facts of slavery and the injustice of it all. The difference between the two of them is the fact that one of them and the power and ?freedom? to go out and do something about what they believe is the right way. Mr. Douglass had
Marcus Aurelius and Benjamin Franklin are two men who during their time were dedicated to improving themselves. Though these two men lived in different time periods under different circumstances, it can be seen that they both endeavored to cultivate virtues within themselves. Additionally, the pair shared many virtues as well as the belief that everything one does should be virtuous and one should always use their reason. Along with the knowledge that no one is perfect and one can never actually achieve perfection. All in all, they both offer a set of virtues that they lived by to try and better themselves in order to live happier lives and what sets them apart is the way they implemented their virtues.
For the larger part of his life, Douglass believed in a living God and whom he knew can change the world. According to him, love and freedom were the most important foundations of Christianity. Therefore, it is his faith that pushed his hope that there would be an end to slavery and racial discrimination. It is critical to note that for many years,
In Part 2, Franklin tells his son of his Quaker friend who questioned the author’s humility and suggests an addition to his list of virtues. Franklin, then a quasi-scientist of virtue, made a point of illustrating charts that mapped his progress in “acquir[ing] the Habitude of all these Virtues” (81). This Quaker insinuates that Franklin is too proud, which shakes the author’s hubris enough to inspire him to prove the Quaker wrong. After a mediocre effort to achieve Humility, which he could not “boast of much Success” (89), Franklin concludes that there is no harder human trait to suppress than Pride and it will inevitably show itself. Even though Benjamin’s willpower is portrayed with great
Benjamin Franklin wrote his autobiography to help citizens of America, and inform them on his life accomplishments. Franklin wanted to help citizens prosper in their lives just like he did. Franklin gives tips and lays out ways to be a better person throughout his autobiography. The main example of his exigence is the virtues he explains. A few of the virtues Franklin explains are, “ Order- Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time. Industry- Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions. Tranquility- Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.” Franklin includes these virtues in his autobiography to provide the reader with ways to become a more successful person in life. Franklin wanted to give readers of his autobiography an outline of how to become successful in life through a few quick and easy steps. Olaudah Equiano’s main exigence or purpose for writing his autobiography is to provide the reader with knowledge of slavery. Equiano wanted everyone to know how cruel slavery was, and how unfair and poorly slaves were treated. He did this through telling his story as a slave during late 1700s. Equiano supports his purpose with
The experience that Benjamin Franklin went through was quite different from what I went though. Franklin had thirteen principals that he would aspire to perfect to become the ideal human. Though it took time, Franklin was able to ameliorate himself; by the end of his experiment he could see the refinement of himself that he had sought after. Similar to a scientific journal, Benjamin Franklin’s biography on developing faultless principals has the tone of a scientist, a hypothesis, a goal, procedures, materials, research, a detailed report on how the experiment advanced, and a conclusion. It is as if Franklin is writing towards fellow scientists, giving them the exact ways to do the same experiment as him.
In Frederick Douglass’ Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Mr. Douglass gives many examples of cruelty towards slaves as he shows many reasons that could have been used to abolish slavery. Throughout the well-written narrative, Douglass uses examples from the severe whippings that took place constantly to a form of brainwashing by the slaveholders over the slaves describing the terrible conditions that the slaves were faced with in the south in the first half of the 1800’s. The purpose of this narrative was most likely to give others not affiliated with slaves an explicit view of what actually happened to the slaves physically, mentally, and emotionally to show the explicit importance of knowledge to the liberation
Frederick Douglass is perhaps the most well-known abolitionist from American history. He is responsible for creating a lot of support for the abolitionist movement in the years before the Civil War. He, along with many others, was able to gain support for and attention to the abolitionist movement. People like him are the reason that slavery ended in the United States.
It is easy to see Benjamin Franklin was no doubt an archetypal American. No one since him has ever had the same amount of success as him. He was a private businessman who made enough money to retire early and to spend the rest of his life in politics. Around this time period only the rich were able to retire early. He was industrious. Franklin continually put forth the idea of the industrious American. He had support from the middle-class who did not care if he was rich but he was a man who was self-made and worked hard. This American attitude was formed early and most of it by him. Franklin was also not judgmental came to decisions and conclusions as a businessman and politician. However, his attitude was non-judgmental with respect to a
Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography is an inspiring tale of his personal, as well as public achievement throughout his life. Franklin’s life embodies the exemplary model of a life composed of discipline, self-reliance and self improvement. From his humble beginnings as an apprentice candle and soap maker in his father’s business to a successful business man, author, philosopher, civil activist, politician scientist, inventor, and diplomat, above all Benjamin Franklin was, and still is, an American Icon and truly a pioneer of the American Dream.