Ben Franklin Questions and Answers

1. In order to understand writing, the reader must become part of the story, but that can't happen if there is no common ground with the writer and the reader. Benjamin Franklin gain's the trust of his readers by proving that he is not a different life form, but rather just a human -- a human with as many flaws as a cracked window. He starts off by admitting the biggest flaw in writing an autobiography -- he has the power to change it; transform even the worst situations into the greatest of stories: "So I might, besides correcting the faults, change some sinister accidents and events of it for others more favorable." Franklin writes with a friendly style that seeks to find refuge in even the coldest of hearts by breaking the long stretches of seriousness with a bit of humor; in response to changing parts of his life story he says "But though this were denied, I should still accept the offer." He proceeds to develop his authority by describing his humble heritage as part of the Franklin family; "I learned that the family had lived in the same village, Ecton, in Northamptonshire, for three hundred years." Benjamin even begins to talk about his religious beliefs and feels he has been making an effort on being more humble by speaking "with seeming diffidence." With a comedian, man of God, writer, and a sincere human underneath the hood, it is nearly impossible to deny this man an ounce of trust to continue telling his story.

2. A brother is a variety of things; he is the friend and also the enemy, but no brother relationship is complete without a few fights here and there. James, Benjamin's brother, started the second newspaper in America known as the New England Courant. When Josiah discovered Benjamin's writing talents he put him to work with his brother as the delivery boy. Ben was still a small boy and didn't get along well with his brother; they fought about the smallest things all the time. When Ben wanted to publish some of his writings he submitted them anonymously and was greatly lighted when his brother complimented them. One day James was imprisoned for publishing a contradicting political statement in his newspaper and thrown in jail. During the time of his brother's absence Ben took over his brother's job. The court freed James if he agreed to not work under the paper again. The brothers soon got into another fight, but this time Ben was so enraged he broke his eight year contract and left the job. In response James went to every printing house in town and instructed them to not hire Benjamin. Knowing he could not find a job in Boston, Benjamin left for New York. His decision to break the contract was not a wise one since it forced Ben to leave home, but in the long run this decision introduced Benjamin to more of the world and transformed an ordinary printer boy into one of the greatest faces in history.

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