Reflection: Lemay's Criticism of Franklin's Autobiography

Although many believed that Benjamin Franklin’s thirteen virtues were just a challenge to be accomplished, Franklin claimed that they meant much more. Along with being a challenge, the thirteen virtues were to help him become a better person. He served as a learning lesson for many that watched his journey to get through the virtues. In the end, Franklin proved that the thirteen virtues not only make you a better person, but they also help you reach the American dream.
The first point that Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography made, according to J. A. Leo Lemay, was the rise from rags to riches (Lemay para. 4). Because Franklin invented many things during the rationalism period, he was not a poor or unknown man. He was also an ambassador for America. Despite the fact that he was wealthy and a very notable man, Benjamin Franklin did not show off his wealth (Langley). He stayed very noble and was gracious for his newfound popularity. The second point was the rise from impotence to importance (Lemay para. 6). This would also include dependence to independence and helplessness to power. Lemay even categorized Franklin’s Autobiography as the common success story that contains the rise of a hero (Lemay para. 4). The third point that Lemay found was the philosophy of individualism (Lemay para. 12). This has a large part to do with the popularity of Deism during the Rationalism Period. The philosophy of Deism believes that all people are naturally good. They just make good or bad choices (discussion). This was also the time where people were separating themselves from the church and creating their own ideas instead. The autobiography also touched on the importance of free will instead of determinism (Lemay para. 13). During this time, it was a common belief that one was either damned or elect (Langley). It was believed that only the church knew who fit into what category. Some people claimed that this was a scan. More continued to follow in their belief and, as a reaction, free will became more common (Langley). The fifth and final point Lemay made over Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography was the philosophy of hope (Lemay para. 17). I agree that Franklin was a great example of a role model because of his brave actions and intellect, but I can’t decipher whether this “philosophy of hope” is from Franklin’s words or from Lemay’s infatuation with the autobiography.
All of these points and notes were taken from Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography. A major focus in his autobiography was the thirteen virtues Franklin had to work hard to accomplish. Franklin spent thirteen weeks trying to meet his goal, adding on another virtue each week. He used a chart to keep record of his facts (Franklin 52).
It is obvious from Leo Lemay’s writing that he is a big fan of Benjamin Franklin. He claims, “Franklin deliberately creates a certain kind of fictive world, embodies that world in some unforgettable scenes, creates and sustains one character who is among the most memorable in American literature, and writes vivid truths that strike us with a shock of recognition” (Lemay para. 23). He also tends to write in a biased view that focuses on the optimistic side of Franklin.

Franklin, Benjamin. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Henry Altemus, 1895. Print.

Langley, John. "Lemay's Criticism on The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin." B2 English 332 Class. Pleasant Plains High School, Pleasant Plains, IL. 3 Oct. 2011. Lecture.

Lemay, J.A. Leo. "Franklin's Autobiography and the American Dream." In The Renaissance Man in the Eighteenth Century. Los Angeles: William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, 1978. Quoted as "Franklin's Autobiography and the American Dream." in Bloom, Harold, ed. The American Dream, Bloom's Literary Themes. New York: Chelsea Publishing House, 2009. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc.