Ben Franklin and Thomas Paine Essay

From the end of the 1700s and with the early 1800s, the States was beginning to see a change in civilization. People were moving from Puritan thoughts and re constituteations towards a new way of a less irrational, more scientific and intellectual interchange. This move custodyt c all(prenominal)ed the duration of sagacity influenced the styles and writings of those analogous Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine.The Age of Enlightenment was a period of questioning and appliance of reasoning to explore more subjects, such as civil rights, often left untouched. People were go away behind their Puritan pasts and advocating the use of scientific method instead of superstitious beliefs of religion. The Enlightenment takes its name from those who wanted to contribute to a brighter future and society. gibe to Henry Clark, Paines importance rests on the fact that he was an idealist, a man who envisaged a happier way of life for all men in the future, who thought in the light of first p rinciples such as the equality and sacredness of all souls before God, and who, since he believed that in the past the life of the public people had been miserable, demanded a sharp break with the past, with tradition (Clark). He wrote familiar Sense even though he was acting in cheating because he held firm to his beliefs that America should be independent..He uses many techniques plot of land writing, one being the overall patriotic and simple tone. Staying away from Latin phrases or philosophical arguments, Paine wrote Common Sense in simple terms, referring to the al-Quran and making the overall tone similar to that of a sermon. For example, he writes, In the following pages I offer nonhing more than simple facts, stark arguments and common sense (Paine 335). He wanted to make sure that all Americans could sympathise the idea of independence, and that independence from England could be achieved. Paine also uses a round of aphorisms to introduce his argument.By doing so in The American Crisis, he captures the readers, allowing them to understand these small, witty statements on a personal level. For example, Paine writes, The harder the conflict, the more glorious the merriment (Paine 345). By using aphorisms, he was able to hint the audience of what is to go far throughout his writings. In another example he writes, These are the quantify that try mens souls (Paine 345). These aphorisms make the reader think and charter themselves questions that are later answered through the text. The Age of Enlightenment was also transparent in Benjamin Franklins writings.The story establishes in literary inning the first example of the fulfillment of the American Dream. He writes of the possibilities of life in America through his own rise from the lower middle category as a youth to one of the most admired men in the world as an adult. Furthermore, he states that he achieved his success through a solid work ethic. For instance he writes, It was abou t this term that I conceived the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral nonsuch (Franklin 307). He wants have that American dream, so he comes up with the xiii virtues to help him.He proved that even undistinguished people can, through industry, become great figures of importance in America in his writings. His The Autobiography also reflects idealism. He somewhat writes of intellectual flourishment and political thought and during break up two, he is trying to live them out. According to Betsy Erkkila, while the Revolution is not present as part of the manifest content of Franklins narrative, it is present as the political or narrative unconscious of Franklins heartas a scene of social crisis, bloody contest, and challenge to conventional structures of authority in family, society, church, and state (Erkkila).This meaning that even though it wasnt spoke of directly, the revolution was desired by Franklin so others could have the American dream and achieve as he did. In conclusion, the Age of Reason, or The Enlightenment was a good period for the New World. Through the literary works of those such as Paine and Franklin, they helped create and mold the definition of America and the American dream. Franklin and Paine used numerous styles of writing such as aphorisms, themes like the American dream to help America succeed.