Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God Analysis

Imagine being told how to make a moral and not an immoral life decision. In recent discussions regarding learning forms, a controversial issue has been whether it is better for people to learn through fear or through positive example. On the one hand, some argue that learning through fear teaches discipline. On the other hand, however, others argue that learning by positive example teaches nothing and is shortly forgotten. It appears that it is better to frighten the learner into making the right choice than to show them how it is done. Jonathan Edwards’ sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” and Benjamin Franklin’s, “Autobiography,” portray how to succeed in the world in two completely different ways. Edwards speaks through
an angry tone scaring the people to do well, while Franklin speaks using the toned voice of a caring person. Edwards uses frightening imagery to depict his thoughts, while Franklin tells stories of his own noble life to illustrate his thoughts. Edwards’ point of view is second person as in “you” where “you” will be in life if “you” don’t change, while Franklin teaches the reader how to get there based on his own experiences. By comparing Edwards’ and Franklin’s use of tone, image, and point of view the reader comes to see that it is better for people to learn through fear than example, because it will be instilled in their minds forever.

The tones each of the writers use are unique and convey different themes on how to be successful in the real world.
Jonathan Edwards’ delivers his sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” to the congregation at Enfield, Connecticut, in 1741. He speaks to them in a way that shocks them into following he correct path of life. Edwards declares, “You probably are not sensible of this; you find you are kept out of hell, but don't see the hand of God in it, but look at other things, as the good state of your bodily constitution, your care of your own life, and the means you use for your own preservation.” This is an Example of how Edwards’ uses an angry tone to portray his topic. This is the best possible way to get someone to do something they would ordinarily refuse to do. On the other hand, Benjamin Franklin speaks about his own personal experiences as a grandfather tells his grandson all of the things he did in his life. He speaks in a voice that may inspire others but mostly puts them to sleep, unlike Edwards. Franklin expresses, “My inclinations for the sea were by this time worn out, or I might now have gratified them.” This is an example of how Franklin speaks in a tone to tell the story of his travels. The writers explain tone through
imagery. Each writer uses different forms of imagery to teach life lessons to their listeners. Edwards, for example, says that
“The G-d that holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loath-some insect over the fire, abhors you, and is dreadfully provoked: His wrath towards you burns like fire; He looks upon you as worthy of nothing else but to be

cast into the fire; . . . and yet it is nothing but His hand that holds you from falling into the fire every moment.”
Edwards is teaching the churchgoers, through the words of powerful imagery, that they can easily end up in hell. The image, which Edwards illustrates, of G-d holding a person, as a person would hold an insect, is extremely powerful and eye opening. Franklin also depicts some strong images in his autobiography, although not as vividly as Edwards’ imagery. Franklin, for example, states “In crossing the bay, we met with a squall that tore our rotten sails to pieces, prevented our getting into the Kill.” Our founding father is trying to describe the fear he experienced in his troubling journey to New York, but his words lack emotion. Emotion is needed to enrich the imagery that is being portrayed. Imagery is a great way to display point-of-view. Each writer speaks through different points of view to try and teach the listener a lesson. Edwards speaks in the second person speaking to the people in the audience about their lives. Edwards shouts, “Your wickedness makes you as it were heavy as lead.” Edwards is trying to teach the churchgoers that it is their problems that need fixing not his own. On the other hand, Franklin speaks in the first person depicting his own lessons that he has learned throughout his life. Franklin writes “I took upon me to assert my freedom, presuming that he would not venture to produce the new indentures.” Franklin is not teaching the readers what to do; he is merely saying what he did in that situation.
Krombach-4

After carefully comparing Jonathan Edwards, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry G-d,” and Benjamin Franklin’s, “Autobiography,” the reader now realizes that learning through fear and anger, is more effective than learning through love and positive example. We learned this by examining each author’s tone, imagery, and point of view. Edwards decided to try a way of teaching that may have been unorthodox but works well. Jonathan Edwards’s style of writing is the better way of teaching the characterless minds of this day and age.