Benjamin Franklin's Pursuit Of The American Dream

At the advent of colonial times in American literature, many events would occur that would evidently lead to a steady shift in society’s ideals. Following the Puritans arrival to the New World, the American Dream was regarded in terms of religious freedom. However as time would progress and America would find itself subservient to Great Britain, society would begin to perceive this dream in a different facet. With that being said, although the American Dream was constantly altering, Benjamin Franklin still believed in the idea of the pursuit of happiness.
Ensuing America’s rapid emergence into a new time period, society’s original perception of the American Dream would begin to falter. Considering this change, the initial American Dream …show more content…
Acknowledged as one of the most well versed American authors, Benjamin Franklin served as the embodiment of persistency in the face of adversity. This tenacious nature was illustrated in one of his famous works, The Autobiography, in which he addresses the struggles he experienced in pursuing a job after leaving home because of the dissatisfaction he felt with his life in Boston. Following this departure, Franklin revealed the haphazard nature of his journey as he arrived in New York with little to no money or knowledge. Regardless of this, Franklin offers his services as a printer to William Bradford in which he disappointingly replies, “My son at Philadelphia has lost his principle hand, thus if you go thither I believe he may employ you “(102). Rejected but still given a gleam of hope, after traveling nearly three hundred miles from home, he proceeded on his journey to Philadelphia regardless of his deteriorating physical state. Despite these hurdles, Franklin pushed himself to his limits symbolizing this seemingly insignificant journey was representative of his pursuit of …show more content…
After encountering his own pursuit of happiness when traveling from Boston to Philadelphia, Franklin endeavors on another individual journey in which he explores the moral aspect of human beings. Consumed with the idea of constant self-improvement in the later years of his life, Franklin consents “to the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection with thirteen virtues” (104). Specifically, the following virtues that were quintessential in attaining moral propriety were: temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility. “Tis true there is much to be done, and perhaps you are weak-handed, but stick to it steadily; and you will see great effects” (Franklin 5). Publicizing this statement in his essay, The Way to Wealth, Franklin directly applies the virtue, industry, into a short statement known as an aphorism. This message conveys that although the initial circumstances in one’s journey may seem difficult, consistent persistency will eventually lead to great results. With that in mind, Franklin himself acknowledging the difficulty in achieving self-betterment, the arrival to moral perfection began to bear a similar resemblance to the pursuit of