Jonathan Edwards and Benjamin Franklin
The Innovators of American Literature From their critical assessments on how to improve themselves and to the American public that they influenced by their writings, Jonathan Edwards and Benjamin Franklin illustrate American themes in their personal narratives that quintessentially make part of American Literature. Although they lived in different times during the early development of the United States of America and wrote for different purposes, they share common themes. Their influence by their environment, individualism, proposals for a better society, and events that affected their society generate from their writings. By analyzing Jonathan Edwards' "Personal Narrative," "Resolutions," "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," and selections from Benjamin Franklin's The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin found in The Heath Anthology of American Literature: Third Edition Volume One edited by Paul Lauter, the fundamental themes in American literature are evident and their individual ideas are distinctive. These personal narratives reveal the influences of their environment that gave them epiphanies to their closer perfection of themselves. Jonathan Edwards' "Personal Narrative" shows his journey towards a closer relationship
He regarded this movement with overwhelming expectations in the belief that it marked the beginning of the millennium" (71). who lived close to nature faithful to her laws uncontaminated by artificialities of court or town" (9, 11). As Ursula Brumm explains in her essay "Jonathan Edwards and Typology," in Early American Literature: A Collection of Critical Essays, "Edwards took part heart and soul in the events of the Great Awakening. These epiphanies assisted on his assessment of becoming a better man in the eyes of God and minister to his community. This openness aims to the audience, the American, in order for them to reevaluate themselves and improve from their weaknesses. Edwards felt that the temptations of Satan was the cause of this event, and by force in this sermon, he attempted to hold his congregation during this test by God who wanted to see who was faithful. The Heath Anthology of American Literature. In the beginning of his autobiography, "Personal Narrative," he says "I had a variety of concerns and exercise about my soul from my childhood; but had two more remarkable seasons of Mckenize 2awakening, before I met with that change, by which I was brought to those new dispositions, and that new sense of things, that I have had" (Lauter 581). These men felt the responsibility to live a better life and set the example for every man in their community. While Franklin teaches through writing the events to all Americans for the need for a closer society after the Revolutionary War, Edward preaches to his congregation the need to bind together and seek salvation during the time when America redefined religion. Franklin lists virtues that he intended his audience to try to follow when they chose to improve themselves.
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