Why did benjamin franklin address his autobiography to his illegitimate son who fought against the c

This biography gives the important facts about his life and his role in the War for Independence.

He treats his life like a book, using metaphors of printing and reading — like calling his mistakes "errata" printing errors — to shape his place in the world. Reading is what brings him his greatest pleasure and writing is how he defines himself.

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin reminds us of the importance literature holds in any society. For Franklin, founding a library and a university — giving people access to books and to knowledge through those books — provides people with something he sees as just as necessary as other basic life needs, like health care or defense.

Part One, first section

Questions About Literature and Writing Franklin says he teaches himself to be a better writer by taking some of the ideas he reads in prose and rewriting some of them in verse, then rewriting them again in his own prose.

Do you think this is a good way of studying? Why did Franklin decide to write an autobiography? Of all the things Franklin did in his life, why do you think he chose to focus his autobiography on specific events and aspects of his life that he did?

It seems pretty clear that Franklin likes to read in a lot of genres, and one of his favorites is fiction. Why do you think that is? Why is reading so important to Franklin? Franklin seizes the chance to write his Autobiography as a way of contributing to the field of literature he loves so much; his self-portrayal within its pages is a deliberate attempt to show that a self-educated writer can also join in an elite canon.The only son of Benjamin Franklin, William Franklin rose through life from illegitimate birth to become the last Royal Governor of New Jersey.

Born in Philadelphia to an unidentified woman of low standing, William was raised by Franklin and his common law wife, Deborah Read Franklin. Franklin's autobiography, covering only his early years, is regarded as one of the finest examples of the genre.

After the death of his wife Deborah, the Franklin lived with his the family of his daughter Sarah, who cared for him as his health weakened. Nor did he inform William, who did not learn until later of the departure of his only son, a lad he had gotten to know for only a year.

Franklin also decided to take along his other grandson, his. During this time Franklin, with his son William, visited the homes of their ancestors, as Franklin reminded William at the beginning of the Autobiography, and in was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of St.

Andrews. Thereafter he was addressed as "Dr. Franklin.". Benjamin Franklin’s family was poor, young Benjamin was only able to attend two years of school. But despite stopping school at the age of ten, Franklin made up for it by being an avid reader.

Franklin’s brother, James, was a printer and at 12 years of age, Franklin worked as an apprentice. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is the traditional name for the unfinished record of his own life written by Benjamin Franklin from to ; however, Franklin himself appears to have called the work his Memoirs.