father and son

Our class seems to love to take shots at Benjamin Franklin. We have called him arrogant, egocentric, pompous, but I don’t think that is a fair assessment to make from an autobiography or that we should compare it to the works by Irving. Franklin may have had a bit of an ego to him, but it is unfair to say that from his autobiography. It is only human nature to portray oneself in the best possible light, I don’t think it anything special to Franklin. Even those who would do play down their accomplishments are most likely doing so to take the persona of a modest person (or else why would they have written an autobiography).
Irving takes a persona that lets him throw stones from the outside. He is attacking the superstitions help the puritans and other Americans and turning it into something fun and exciting. Irving’s personal dignity is not at stake in his writing, except perhaps the quality, unlike Franklin. Also this book was for his son, and from my view of most historical father-son relationships, the father will present himself in a larger than life type of manner, perhaps to feel superior, perhaps to inspire his son to greater heights. I don’t know, but here is a touching moment of Franklin with his son.