On October 8th Dr. Nathan Coleman spoke with us about Ben Franklin's influential autobiography. During the lecture we dove into passages from the book that highlighted aspects of Ben Franklin's personality that endear him to our hearts. Perserverance, ingenuity, ambition, and prudence were all discussed, but one common thread that particularly piqued my interest was Dr. Coleman's perspective on Franklin's apparent arrogance. He pointed to Franklin's "did-it-alone" attitude in the autobiography. While there was passionate disagreement about the justification for his arrogance, the actual question was whether his arrogance had a significant role in how his legacy has been passed down.
His story is one of the American Dream. It is a story of a working class boy that makes his way into the elite and privileged. From the youngest child to a French Court staple, his journey has been given worldwide attention throughout history. Is that story then one of self-accreditation or one of balance, passion, and perseverance? A conclusion was never reached, but it was not the answer that mattered. Dr. Coleman presented a different view of the socially accepted Franklin. He dismissed modern misconceptions but gave us new, more factual, issues to deal with. His seminar was one of enlightenment and prepared us beautifully to take a deeper look into one of the greatest Americans; both nominally and more profoundly. His autobiography has been a singular addition to the literary world; changing lives and changing the way we think about autobiographies, this seminar allowed us to touch the surface of Franklin's world.
His story is one of the American Dream. It is a story of a working class boy that makes his way into the elite and privileged. From the youngest child to a French Court staple, his journey has been given worldwide attention throughout history. Is that story then one of self-accreditation or one of balance, passion, and perseverance? A conclusion was never reached, but it was not the answer that mattered. Dr. Coleman presented a different view of the socially accepted Franklin. He dismissed modern misconceptions but gave us new, more factual, issues to deal with. His seminar was one of enlightenment and prepared us beautifully to take a deeper look into one of the greatest Americans; both nominally and more profoundly. His autobiography has been a singular addition to the literary world; changing lives and changing the way we think about autobiographies, this seminar allowed us to touch the surface of Franklin's world.