Benjamin Franklin and D. H. Lawrence

Paper Summary:

This paper is an in-depth examination of the Benjamin Franklin's achievements in life and how D.H. Lawrence's view of the world affected his evaluation of these achievements. The author looks at Franklin's many achievements including the development of electricity and its many off-shoots, the development of a postal system, the creation of bi-focal glasses and the invention of the fireplace and stoves. Franklin's strong sense of family and family values, his knowledge of weather and weather patterns, his negotiating skills and subsequent successes in international relations are also discussed in detail. The author then demonstrates how D. H. Lawrence criticizes each and every achievement of Franklin's without hesitation and in many of these instances, without any logical reasoning.

From the Paper:

"All of the things we are discussing would have a much different meaning if it were not for Ben's skills as a negotiator. Without help from the French the result of our war to get the British out of America could easily have failed. Our navy fought remarkably well as did our army, but they had smaller numbers and did not have the experience and training of the British troops. The additional resources supplied by France were essential. The negotiations to acquire this kind of support were very difficult. Only a person of Ben's intellect and charm could have made it happen. Franklin had not only the French to deal with, but also the other two Americans that were part of the commission. "Coming straight from London, Arthur Lee [one of other two on the commission] arrived in Paris shortly after Franklin and proceeded immediately to find fault with everything his colleagues were doing and not doing. A highly intelligent man, trained in law and medicine, but afflicted with a fair degree of paranoia, Lee was a Franklin-hater of long standing (Lopez and Herbert 234)." Lawrence can only complain about Ben's ability to create a situation where America was able to create its own country rather than staying under British rule. He cannot tolerate independence and creative thought in a country that broke away from his native England."

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