ENG 231 BLOG

Ashley
Instructor Bingham
ENG 231
11 February 2009
A View on a New Life
The works of many great writers of the time of the New World questioned society. Many authors, such as Benjamin Franklin, commented on the status of the American life and the thought process of such people. In Franklin’s work “To Those Who Would Remove America”, he regards the manner in which foreigners coming into America viewed the people and their lifestyles of luxury, or so it appeared. Just as in the world today, Franklin demonstrates the highly glorious appeal that America portrays to outsiders despite the fact that America actually bestows both advantages and disadvantages for its people like any other nation.
Those coming to America and the New World will never fully fulfill their expectations of achieving a better life despite the advantages that many European settlers seemed to think that Americans claimed. Franklin moves to say that “these are all wild imaginations” (463) and that America is merely a “general happy mediocrity that prevails” (463). There is nothing special about America, he claims. There will be no “freebies” given out to individuals nor does the lifestyle reflect that of high society. Everyone is simply middle class and mediocre in their living, unlike how it was expected to be in America. He also claims that all individuals taking residence here must learn to work and that “strangers indeed are by no means excluded from exercising those professions” (463). On employment, he comments that there are “no superfluous ones, as in Europe” (464). This implies that everyone in this New World maintains the same level of opportunity and influence in their work environment, unlike European tradition once again. In addition, America is known as the “land of labor” (465) to many settlers at this time. However, this notion did not guarantee them a permanent job or rewards from the government for establishing a home here in the U.S.A. Franklin comments that “[one] must work and be industrious to live” if no fortunes were brought over to this New World. Concluding, Franklin ultimately warns new settlers about the reliability of the predominant ideals that they held towards America and its advantages. In saying that many things are different from the lifestyle in England, he urges the new settlers against coming to America, afraid of what to expect.
Some advantages for those who come to America are also expressed in Benjamin Franklin’s selection “To Those Who Would Remove to America”. In stating that the land is “not likely occupied” (465), this encourages new settlers to establish life in this environment. He states that, despite little government assistance and rewards, some opportunities still exist for foreigners, such as the likelihood of free land and property to own. In addition, “the good will of their neighbors and good credit” (465) will assist with the land and the cost of daily living. Franklin comments that certain jobs, such as artisans, workmen, and cultivators are in high demand in such a new environment. He claims that many have began poor and “become respectable citizens” through these crafts, encouraging new settlers to establish employment in such a growing field of work here in America. Also, describing a sense of hard work and ability to reason about the American people allows Franklin to support the advantages of this New World. In saying that “many may encounter prosperity among the effort that they are taught” (465), he establishes the meaning of working hard and then becoming rewarded for individual time and energy. In describing both the disadvantages of this New World as well as the advantages given to those who choose to settle here, it is apparent that new settlers must maintain a strong work ethic in order to succeed in a world where there are no levels of influence, control or differences among individuals and where those who prosper are the same individuals that stepped up to make a better life for themselves in the first place by taking that chance to come to America.
This faith in America portrayed by outsiders is not unique to Benjamin Franklin’s writing of “To those who would remove America”. Many individuals across the world today display these same ideas as they risk everything to live in America where everyone is equal and people have freedom of expression. However, Franklin’s idea that America is not always as perfect and glorious as it seems still captures the essence of the nation today despite the fact that many applaud the country’s efforts and lifestyle from the outside. Franklin’s second idea relates to the ability to work hard and be reasonable in decision-making and in life. Today, this can be applied in the sense that many Americans who experience this nations benefits often times are able to make better sense of what is around them and achieve more by realizing the importance of maintaining a clear mind in their thinking. However, as a nation of primarily workers, the U.S.A. also recognizes the importance of work and contribution to something larger. Therefore, Franklin’s short passage that highlights both some of the disadvantages as well as advantages to new settlers coming to America for the first time and still impacts the way in which outsiders see America as well as how Americans see themselves even in today’s society.




Works Cited
Franklin, Benjamin. “The Autobiography”. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Baynum. 7th ed. Vol. B. New York: Norton, 2007. 463-465.