Benjamin Franklin The American Enlightenment Hao Guilian, Ph.D. Yunnan Normal University Fall, 2009

Historical Background-1 America has always been a land of beginnings. After Europeans "discovered" America in the fifteenth century, the mysterious New World became for many people a genuine hope of a new life, and escape from poverty and persecution, a chance to start again. We can say that, as a nation, America begins with that hope. When, however, does American literature begin?

Historical Background-2 American literature begins with American experiences. The New World provide a great variety of experiences, and these experiences demanded a wide variety of expressions by a even wider variety of early American writers. These writers included John Smith, who spent only about two-and-one-half years on the American continent. They included Jonathan Edwards and William Byrd, who thought of themselves as British subjects, never suspecting a revolution that would create a United States of America with a literature of its own. American Indians, explorers, Pilgrims, Puritan ministers, frontier wives, plantation owners---they are all the creators of the first American literature.

Puritanism-1 The Puritans were devout Christians who wanted to purify their lives and their church of what they saw as the corruptions of English society and its state religion, the Church of England. They called themselves Saints or Separatists, but they are now generally called Puritans--a name that became a sign of their separateness. Writing was an important part of Puritan life; it was often an extension of religion. They wrote to instruct others or to testify their experience of divine grace; they wrote spiritual autobiographies.

Puritanism-2 Puritan writing, in other words, was practical. The writers were deeply involved with their spiritual selves and attempts to improve them. They wrote no fiction, nor did they even approve of reading fiction, and they wrote no plays. Their writings consisted largely of journals, sermons, hymns, histories, and poems. They preferred to write in what they called Plain Style, which was meant simply to communicate ideas as clearly as possible. Writing was not a way of showing off cleverness or learning but a way of serving God and the community.

The American Enlightenment-1 The 18th-century American Enlightenment was a movement marked by an emphasis on rationality rather than tradition, scientific inquiry instead of unquestioning religious dogma, and representative government in place of monarchy. Enlightenment thinkers and writers were devoted to the ideals of justice, liberty, and equality as the natural rights of man. During the 1770s no one in America could claim to be a professional novelist, poet, or playwright. Yet a great number of Americans expressed themselves on the subjects of liberty, government, law, reason, and individual and national freedom.

The American Enlightenment-2 Gradually, negative protests turned into more positive expressions. Besides petitioning against "taxation without representation,'' more and more Americans started calling for more self-government. The Declaration of Independence --the culmination of the writing of this period--carries the voice not of an individual but of a whole people. It is more than writing of the period; it defined the meaning of the Revolution.

Benjamin Franklin ( ) There are several reasons to remember Benjamin Franklin. One important reason being that he has been nicknamed, "The First American." He helped write and then signed The Declaration of Independence. He also helped write the document that would help make the laws of America, The Constitution of the United States. Franklin was an excellent diplomat and politician. He started the first circulating library in America, founded a college that later became the University of Pennsylvania, made some popular furniture, and studied the laws of electricity-the famous night kite flying experiment. He did hundreds of other things for which we remember him today.

Another important reason for remembering him is that he achieved these accomplishments only after great perseverance. "God helps them that help themselves." This was his life philosophy. By cleverness and hard work he changed himself from the poorly educated son of a candle-maker into a world-renowned scientist, diplomat, philosopher, and writer. The final reason for remembering Benjamin Franklin, of course, is his writing. He perfected the smooth, clear, short sentences of the Puritan plain style. Today he is remembered mainly for his Autobiography (Paris 1791; America 1818). The autobiography encourages hard work and emphasizes the importance of achievement. Autobiography

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is the traditional name for the unfinished record of his own life written by Benjamin Franklin from 1771 to 1790; however, Franklin himself appears to have called the work his Memoirs. This work has become one of the most famous and influential examples of autobiography ever written.Benjamin Franklin autobiography Franklin's account of his life is divided into four parts, reflecting the different periods at which he wrote them. There are actual breaks in the narrative between the first three parts, but Part Three's narrative continues into Part Four without an authorial break (only an editorial one).

Part one The opening part of the Autobiography addresses some themes that will come up later on in the book, namely, self-betterment and religion. Franklin's tone at the beginning of the book is humble and indicative of a belief in utilitarianism( 功利主义，实利主义 ). He claims to write only so that his own life may be an example for his son of how one can live well and how one can get through hardships. Franklin's book, a story of self- betterment, is written so as to be a model for the betterment of others. This general motive for writing, as well as Franklin's mention of correcting some errors were he to relive his life, both indicate Franklin's constant interest in self-improvement. This is perhaps the largest theme in the Autobiography.

Thirteen Virtues Franklin sought to cultivate his character by a plan of thirteen virtues, which he developed at age 20 (in 1726) and continued to practice in some form for the rest of his life. His autobiography lists his thirteen virtues as:autobiography "TEMPERANCE. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation." "SILENCE. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation." "ORDER. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time."

"RESOLUTION. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve." "FRUGALITY. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing." "INDUSTRY. Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions." "SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly." "JUSTICE. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty."

"MODERATION. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve." "CLEANLINESS. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation." "TRANQUILLITY. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable." "CHASTITY. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation." "HUMILITY. Imitate Jesus and Socrates."JesusSocrates

Reactions to the work Franklin's Autobiography has received widespread praise, both for its historical value as a record of an important early American and for its literary style. It is often considered the first American book to be taken seriously by Europeans as literature. William Dean Howells in 1905 asserted that "Franklin's is one of the greatest autobiographies in literature, and towers over other autobiographies as Franklin towered over other men." However, Mark Twain's essay "The Late Benjamin Franklin" (1870) provides a less exalted reaction, for example, he claimed that Franklin ’ s example had "brought affliction to millions of boys since, whose fathers had read Franklin's pernicious biography").William Dean HowellsMark Twain

Nevertheless, responses to The Autobiography have generally been positive, with most readers recognizing it as a classic of literature and relating to the narrative voice of the author. In this work, Franklin's persona comes alive and presents a man whose greatness does not keep him from being down-to-earth and approachable, who faces up to mistakes and blunders ("Errata") he has committed in life, and who presents personal success as something within the reach of anyone willing to work hard enough for it.

Study Questions Textbook: p.8 How much do you know the characteristics of Americans in general? How much do you see them in B. Franklin?