Jonathan Edwards and Benjamin Franklin
Compare Jonathan Edwards’ “Personal Narrative” and Benjamin Franklin’s “Autobiography, Part II.”
Both Jonathan Edwards and Benjamin Franklin are major and important American writers. A vast number of people were influenced by their writings. They illustrated early American themes in their personal points of view. Although they lived in similar times during the early development of America, they mostly wrote for different purposes. However, a reader can still find some similarities and common themes in their works. In this paper, I would like to focus on and compare the most important writings that were created by those two authors, which are “Personal Narrative” and Part II of “Autobiography.” Benjamin Franklin is a major figure in early American history. He accomplished many great things for his country as a politician, political theorist, writer, and a diplomat. Ironically, in his “Autobiography” he shows himself as more of a scientist than a political thinker. A reader gets a full picture of Franklin who is interested in learning and fascinated by doing whatever he can to make life a little bit better for American citizens. He truly believed that the only way to please God and be a good person, was by doing good deeds for other people, without wanting anything in return.
In the Part II of Franklin’s “Autobiography” he described his struggles with the issue of his own vanity. This was a really major concern for him. He is more than willing to confess that he could never get rid of his pride, even though he pretended to be humble. He was very aware of his problem and there are also parts in his biography where he was obviously confessing his own faults.
Jonathan Edwards’ “Personal Narrative” describes his attempt to maintain a closer relationship with God. Edwards was raised in a very religious family and from his early childhood he was leading a Christian life. He experienced a “rite of passage” which helped him to get closer to God. His main goal in
Both Jonathan Edwards and Benjamin Franklin are major and important American writers. A vast number of people were influenced by their writings. They illustrated early American themes in their personal points of view. Although they lived in similar times during the early development of America, they mostly wrote for different purposes. However, a reader can still find some similarities and common themes in their works. In this paper, I would like to focus on and compare the most important writings that were created by those two authors, which are “Personal Narrative” and Part II of “Autobiography.” Benjamin Franklin is a major figure in early American history. He accomplished many great things for his country as a politician, political theorist, writer, and a diplomat. Ironically, in his “Autobiography” he shows himself as more of a scientist than a political thinker. A reader gets a full picture of Franklin who is interested in learning and fascinated by doing whatever he can to make life a little bit better for American citizens. He truly believed that the only way to please God and be a good person, was by doing good deeds for other people, without wanting anything in return.
In the Part II of Franklin’s “Autobiography” he described his struggles with the issue of his own vanity. This was a really major concern for him. He is more than willing to confess that he could never get rid of his pride, even though he pretended to be humble. He was very aware of his problem and there are also parts in his biography where he was obviously confessing his own faults.
Jonathan Edwards’ “Personal Narrative” describes his attempt to maintain a closer relationship with God. Edwards was raised in a very religious family and from his early childhood he was leading a Christian life. He experienced a “rite of passage” which helped him to get closer to God. His main goal in