One of his first dealings is with a man named Samuel Keimer, a printer in Philadelphia whom Franklin starts out working for, but through deceit and manipulation, manages to rise above him. Soon after Franklin is employed at Keimer’s print shop, he makes the judgment that “these two printers I found poorly qualified for their Business…Keimer tho’ something of a Scholar, was a mere Compositor, knowing nothing of Presswork” (555). Following his shrewd instincts, Franklin conspires against his boss when Governor Sir William Keith comes with a better job opportunity. “In the meantime the Intention was to be kept secret, and I went on working with Keimer as usual, the Governor sending for me now and then to dine with him, a very great Honor I thought it…About the End of April 1724, a little Vessel offer’d for Boston. I took Leave of Keimer as going to see my friends” (556). Here, Franklin’s ambitious character has put business and social standing above personal integrity and honesty. Although one may not consider this deception particularly bad in the business realm, it is his decision to keep Keimer in the dark “for he suspected nothing of my Setting up” (560) and as a safety backup that is morally questionable. In addition to disloyalty, Franklin is also capable of revenge. As Franklin and Keimer’s relationship deteriorates over time, they eventually have a complete fall out when Keimer steals one of Franklin’s paper publishing ideas. “I resented this, and to counteract them, as I could not yet begin our Paper, I wrote several Pieces of Entertainment for Bradford’s Paper” (578). To gain control again, Franklin writes for the rival paper, publicly ridicules Keimer, and effectively manages to shut down Keimer’s paper before it has a chance to begin. “The Person that bought them employ’d Keimer to use them, but in a few years died. There remain’d now no Competitor with me at Philadelphia…” (581). Franklin is acclaimed for his shrewd politics in dealing with Keiser and other opponents of his business career. In comparison to the early accounts of his childhood, we can see that Franklin has definitely risen up from his humble origins. However, the passion for perfection and prosperity that created Franklin’s “self made man” image has also directed him to step on his associates, manipulate, and beguile them with no hesitation or shame.
Inside Franklin’s private life, it becomes even more obvious that he consistently puts pragmatics and ambition over morals. Part two opens with two letters to Franklin encouraging him to continue and publish his brook. “quote” ( ). Franklin’s book is no longer merely a story of his life; he now seems to sincerely create a future model by which people can better their lives. Directed by his passion for self betterment, Franklin takes on “the bold and arduous project of arriving at Moral Perfection” (591). This is a fine aspiration and Franklin tackles it with firm resolution—creating calendars, charts, and little books imploring for guidance.
“Father of Light and Life, thou Good supreme,
O teach me what is good, teach me thy self!
Save me from Folly, Vanity and Vice,
From every low Pursuit, and fill my Soul
With Knowledge, conscious Peace, and Virtue pure,
Sacred, substantial, neverfading Bliss!” (595).
Nevertheless, under more careful examination, we find mixed signals to Franklin’s said beliefs and ideals. Franklin’s original intention was the enrichment of his moral life. However, once again his ambitious and pragmatic character gets the best of him. “Frugality and Industry, by freeing me from my remaining Debt, and producing Affluence and Independence would make more easy the Practice of Sincerity and Justice,” (594). On analyzing Ben’s priority of virtues, it is interesting to note that he puts qualities associated with producing social and economic affluence above those that truly characterize moral values—just as he put retribution above honesty and good conscience with his boss Keimer. Franklin’s underlying definition of moral perfection is best explained by contrasting it with a Puritan’s definition. While Puritans do good for the sake of salvation, Franklin does it for pragmatic and utilitarian purposes. Even the audience his manual is directed at is affected. “I had purposely avoided them; for being fully persuaded of the Utility and Excellency of my Method, and that it might be serviceable to People in all Religions...I would not have anything in it that should prejudice anyone of any Sect against it” (598). This in and of itself, is a contradiction because prior to making his famous list of virtues, Franklin announced, “I wish’d to live without committing any Fault at anytime; I would conquer all that either Natural Inclination, Custom, or Company might lead me into” (591). While integrity and justice are extremely important, they serve second to pragmatic values when it comes to securing a profitable future—thus, one must take caution before applying Franklin’s self help manual to our own personal lives.
While the aforementioned was determined by analyzing his famous list of virtues—the actions and decisions Franklin makes among his friends, family and acquaintances serve to strengthen the notion that his life contradicts his ideals. Throughout the novel, Franklin repeatedly points out his own skills by showing that another individual was unable to accomplish the same things he did. “I have since kept several Lents most strictly, leaving the common Diet for that...I went on pleasantly, but Poor Keimer suffer’d grievously, tir’d of the Project, long’d for the Flesh Pots of Egypt, and order’d a roast Pig” (561). Granted, Keimer is not the model citizen, yet the point remains, Keimer held a position of authority over Franklin and thus, Franklin’s criticism of him illustrates his vengeful nature and creates doubt that Franklin is as virtuous as he claims to be. Franklin outlines yet another time when he rose up to become better than the people who was superior to him earlier on in life—this time, his own brother. If Franklin was really as humble and modest as he declares, he would not have visited his brother “better dress’d than ever while in his Service, having a genteel new Suit from head to food, a Watch, and in my Porckets lin’d with near Five Pounds Sterling in Silver” ( page ). Franklin is undoubtedly extremely intelligent and possesses all the qualities of a successful businessman. Nevertheless, his success in the printing industry does not prove moral success. In fact, if humility and respect were the factors that bring affluence, Franklin would be penniless. And yet, there are still numerous times in the Autobiography when Franklin sounds like he is trying to prove to the reader of his virtues. A Doctor Baird notes, and Franklin readily reports, that Franklin is “superior to anything I ever saw of the kind: I see him still at work when I go home from Club; and he is at Work again before his Neighbors are out of bed” (page #). Franklin is industrious and frugal, but this blatant boast shows that Franklin takes great measure to flaunt his hard work and ensure his reputation. In trying so hard to appear virtuous, Franklin’s integrity is thrown into doubt—is he really so humble and diligent, or is it just an elaborate façade to appear moral?
