The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin · Chapter
II: Beginning Life as a Printer explained
Franklin recounts his early love of reading, his apprenticeship to his brother James, his early attempts at poetry, his self-education in writing and arithmetic, his vegetarian diet for frugality and study, his dispute with John Collins, hi
What happens
Franklin recounts his early love of reading, his apprenticeship to his brother James, his early attempts at poetry, his self-education in writing and arithmetic, his vegetarian diet for frugality and study, his dispute with John Collins, his management of the New England Courant during his brother's imprisonment, the scheme to publish under his own name, and his eventual decision to run away to New York at age seventeen.
Themes in this chapter
Education and Self-Learning
Franklin's extensive self-education through reading, borrowing books, studying arithmetic and navigation, and learning rhetoric and logic from texts.
Industry and Frugality
Franklin's vegetarian diet to save money for books, his long hours of study, and his efficient use of time while others ate.
Practical Wisdom and Common Sense
Franklin's adoption of the Socratic method and his advice on modest, persuasive communication to avoid disputation and achieve practical ends.
Characters to notice
- Benjamin Franklin
Narrator and protagonist; describes his childhood reading, apprenticeship, and early career as a printer.
- James Franklin
Benjamin's older brother and master; returns from England to set up a printing business in Boston, imprisons Benjamin's brother, and later attempts to prevent Benjamin from finding work.
- John Collins
A bookish friend of Benjamin's in Boston; they dispute about educating women, and Collins helps Benjamin arrange passage to New York.
- Josiah Franklin
Benjamin's father; discourages Benjamin's poetry, determines to make him a printer, and later sides with James in the dispute.
- Matthew Adams
An ingenious tradesman who notices Benjamin, invites him to his library, and lends him books.
Key passages
“From a child I was fond of reading, and all the little money that came into my hands was ever laid out in books.”
Since childhood, I loved reading and spent every small amount of money I had on books.
Franklin establishes his lifelong habit of reading and self-education.
“I now had access to better books. An acquaintance with the apprentices of booksellers enabled me sometimes to borrow a small one, which I was careful to return soon and clean.”
I gained access to better books by befriending booksellers' apprentices, borrowing small volumes that I returned promptly and in good condition.
Franklin's resourcefulness in obtaining reading material.
“I determined on the point, but my father now siding with my brother, I was sensible that, if I attempted to go openly, means would be used to prevent me.”
I decided to leave, but since my father supported my brother, I knew that if I tried to leave openly, they would stop me.
Franklin's decision to run away to New York due to family conflict.