Literary Comparative Analysis

Franklin's book hardly tells the story of a man in constant rebellion, or even resistance to authority. If anything, he is a man who upholds the standards of the community. His role in the Revolutionary war cannot be considered, because it is not included in the book, which contains events up to 1757. The best way to consider Franklin's life in the context of the current study is to consider the freedom he had to do what he wanted to do, as opposed to the far more fettered life of Wharton in Foster's novel. Franklin and Wharton live in a man's world, in a century---the 18th---which did not yet dream of feminism. Franklin, for many reasons---moral, spiritual, practical, economic, social, political---seeks to strike out and make a name and place for himself as a leader in society. He is able to do so in part because he is obviously a remarkable man, even if he says so himself, but he is also successful in part because the soci

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the passion of love for Mr. Haly; yet a habit of conversing with him, of hearing daily the most virtuous, tender, and affectionate sentiments from his lips, inspired emotions of the sincerest friendship, and esteem (Foster 6). Wharton will eventually resist authority, but at this stage she has clearly cut herself off from her own heart and soul, believing that it is her role to do as she is told by parents and society and to make the best of it. Meanwhile, Franklin lives his life relatively unfettered by the kinds of restrictions to which Wharton willingly submits. His resistance to his brother's authority over him resembles his resistance to his father's authority. Franklin admits that his leaving his brother may have been "not fair," but "the Unfairness of it weigh'd little with me, when under the Impressions of Resentment, for the Blows his Passion too often urg'd him to bestow upon me. Tho' he was otherwise not an ill-natur'd man: Perhaps I was too saucy and provoking" (Franklin 500). Franklin, in other words, does what he wants when he wants, regardless of whether it is fair or not. He feels a natural right to exercise his freedom at every turn, no matter what symbol of authority might stand in his way. Wharton, in th
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Approximate Word count = 1663
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)

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