The Whistle Symbolism

In the letter, “The Whistle”, by Benjamin Franklin that was written to his friend, he expresses his ideals in life. The central theme of the letter is that people should stay on a middle path when it comes to luxuries. Mr. Franklin then uses symbolism to bring out this point of not going overboard with luxuries.
In the letter, the author tells a tale about a whistle he purchased when he was younger, he uses this as a symbol for all luxuries in life. Using symbolism, the author brings out the central theme of staying on a middle path when it comes to luxuries. One example is, “If I knew a miser, who gave up every kind of comfortable living, all the pleasure of doing good to others, all the esteem of his fellow-citizens, and the joys of benevolent friendship, for the sake of accumulating wealth, “Poor man”, said I, “you pay too much for your whistle.” (Line 38-41) In this paragraph the author explains the negative effects of being a miser. The writer believes that it is senseless to save all one‘s money just for the sake of accumulating wealth. In another example, the author brings out the opposite point about spending too much money on luxuries. “When I met with a man of pleasure, sacrificing every laudable improvement of the mind, or of his fortune, to mere corporeal sensations, and ruining his health in their pursuit, "Mistaken man," said I, "you are providing pain for yourself, instead of …show more content…
Benjamin believes that one should not indulge in luxuries or be a miser, but rather one should follow a middle path and think before he pays too much for his whistle. He gives an example of a miser who refuses to spend his money and therefore, doesn’t enjoy any pleasures in life. The entire letter focuses on the theme of going overboard or to get what you want. The writer believes that one should not overpay for his wants or cherish money forever, but rather one should focus on doing