Franklin and Irving Do It Their Way

Ben Franklin's persona in his autobiography is that of a confident, well educated, and systematic man. When compared to Washington Irving's fictional character Ichabod Crane from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, we begin to find similarities between these men. They are both intellectuals (Crane is a school teacher) and lady killers as well. Franklin creates a system for success which helps him to become a self-made, wealthy, and important individual, but Crane aims to use his intellect to win over a young girl for her father's wealth. Thus, both of these men act for their own personal gain of wealth and power. A major difference between these men is the rational "from the ground on up" ethic of Franklin and the "one big plan" of the fictional Crane."

In Irving's Rip Van Winkle, we find a much more giving character that is much less interested in the highlights of society than our other two characters. Van Winkle is somewhat of an adult version of Huck Finn. He only wants to be left alone to do what he pleases. Winkle also enjoys helping others with their work, but does not enjoy doing any work for himself. Here, Winkle further differs from Franklin and Crane who act only for themselves.

Interestingly, none of these men seem to have too much favor for early Puritan ideals. The concept of Predestination does not appear to bother these men at all: each acts exactly the way that they want, despite their obstacles (Franklin's lower class condition, Craine's stick-like appearance next to Brom Bones, and Winkle's rough wife). Early trend setters perhaps?

These characters also provide similar and different views of their world. Franklin's world is very intent on rules, which we can recognize from his father assigning him to the printing business like his brothers and then having to present his writings under a separate identity. This is of course a much more real world in Franklin than in Irving's fantasies. Although Rip Van Winkle tells a tale of fiction, it also displays a worldly change in America from before the Revolutionary War to after.