Forgive Me Gentlemen Analysis

What are the clues about the worldview of the writer? Benjamin Franklin a rebellious teenager grew up in a strong Puritan background lead by his father. Throughout his childhood, Benjamin did not gel with his father wishes nor his occupation. At the age of twelve, Benjamin became an apprentice under his older brother at his printing company. Benjamin loved books and writing and really took to the trade. One day, Benjamin’s older brother came across an essay on Benjamin’s desk that became his first editorial ever published, secretly written under another name, his brother was unaware that his brother was the actual author. Years later, Benjamin’s brother became incarcerated for disrespecting public officials, which lead Benjamin on his own journey. Benjamin had an interest in learning from failures and creating false identities to speak about issues that affected society to contest the current laws and beliefs of their leaders. For example, Polly Baker, a woman that bared five children out of wedlock faced punishment for her actions. Franklin wrote on the woman’s behalf as of being punished for natural things, such as development and multiplying of their race. In the writings from Polly Baker, Franklin states, “Forgive me Gentlemen, if I talk a little extravagantly on these Matters; I am no Divine: But if you, great Men, must be making Laws, do not …show more content…
In this quote, Franklin says, “Tis is hard for an empty bag to stand upright” (462). In the text, the quote referenced a man in poverty, simply saying that a person with nothing is hard to carry on. Franklin believed that people should speak to other people and should not be ashamed or nervous by doing so. Franklin believed in a free world with limited government restrictions. In addition, Franklin wanted people to live for themselves instead of by the mouth of someone else, to learn from their mistakes, and to share their learnings with