Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin, an Ordinary American Superhero

In “Why America Worships Superheroes, ” journalist Julian Sancton explains the rise of superheroes in American film and culture. In it, Sancton quotes director and comic book writer Frank Miller, who claims, “Every great civilization has its superheroes” (Sancton). Superheroes are not just a nerdy obsession, he suggests; rather, they are a traditional cultural icon/form. Traditionally, a superhero is recognized by skills and abilities beyond normal human capacity, including paranormal or supernatural powers. These heroes are mythical creations that explain the values of a society. Although humans are not likely to be able to “leap tall buildings in a single bound” (DC Comics) like Superman or shoot retractable metal spikes out of their skin like Wolverine, there is overlap between a superhero and an ordinary hero. According to Merriam-Webster, heroism comprises “conduct especially as exhibited in fulfilling a high purpose or attaining a noble end.” This conduct can take the form of physical, moral, and mental heroism. Normally, when someone performs an act of heroism, it involves more than one form. Normal acts of heroism can occur in all sorts of situations and affect any number of people. Personally, I believe that a hero is someone who uses their talents in order to help solve issues facing humanity even if it means taking major risks. A person who utilized his natural curiosity, native intelligence, energy, creativity, and ingenuity to raise the level of human knowledge and invent many devices to improve the quality of human life is Benjamin Franklin.

An image of Benjamin Franklinbiography.comFranklin, a Founding Father of America, was born into a family of seventeen children in 1706. His family’s large size prevented him from attending formal schools, so Franklin had to resort to teaching himself and attending free schools. Due to Franklin’s fascination with reading, his father made him an apprentice to one of his older brothers who was a printer. Franklin, not getting along with his brother, ran away to Philadelphia, where he worked for a printer named Sam Keimer. After visiting London the following year, Franklin became a master printer. Franklin used his printing skills to write the Silence Dogood letters, which benefited the colonies by motivating the colonists to support the nation’s freedom. Furthermore, Franklin also helped by drafting the Declaration of Independence, as well as convincing the French to monetarily support the new United States of America. After the war, Franklin contributed to drafting the Treaty of Paris and the United States Constitution. In 1751, Franklin contributed in the establishment of a hospital in Philadelphia. He also founded the Union Fire Company. Among of Franklin’s inventions, two of the most important were the lightning rod and the bifocal glasses. In 1790, Franklin died due to pleurisy. Franklin assisted in the establishment of the United States of America and invented things to help society. Benjamin Franklin is a hero because he used his natural talents in diplomacy and science to help establish and enrich the United States of America, and he invented scientific devices to improve the lives of others.

Franklin’s diplomatic actions had a positive effect on society. Franklin utilized his diplomatic skills to help draft, the Declaration of Independence, which formally separated America from Britain because of the king’s tyranny: “...when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is [the people’s] right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security” (Declaration of Independence) Franklin used his intelligence to create a different and unique guiding document to free people from the oppressive forms of government and shows his faith in others by believing they could govern themselves. He furthers this cause by using his diplomacy to allow others to understand, join, and support this new society, which has impacted nation after nation, allowing many people to strive to live in a land which is free. Franklin did not merely help draft the Declaration of Independence, he was also able to get France to assist the United States during the Revolutionary War: “The United States, as a country, is indebted to Franklin for obtaining the aid of France in the Revolutionary War and for negotiating an effective peace treaty. Although France was anxious for England to be humbled, it could not openly afford to aid the U.S. rebels unless success seemed probable” (GALE). The Americans knew that if France were to help, sending resources and supporting the United States would be expensive, so they sent Franklin to increase the odds of swaying the French since he was an intelligent, persuasive, and diplomatic representative. Franklin was able to persuade the French to help the United States, which marked a turning point in the Revolutionary War. Getting the French to help improved the lives of the colonists since they were no longer controlled by a monarch thousands of miles away. This improved the lives of Franklin’s compatriots because they were no longer under control by an unjust monarchy and are able to use their own government. The Americans did not need to pay tariffs or house British soldiers on demand for example, and they could resume their lives with greater autonomy and freedom.

Franklin's kite experimentThe Franklin InstituteFranklin is also a hero because he uses his skills as a scientist to innovate new devices and improve the quality of life for Americans, even going so far as to go to perform dangerous experiments for the safety of others. Franklin invented the bifocal glasses which helped other be able to see better: “Franklin wrote, in August 1784 to his friend George Whatley, that he was ‘happy in the invention of double spectacles, which serving for distant objects as well as near ones, make my eyes as useful to me as ever they were’” (ushistory.org). The invention of Franklin’s bifocals assisted the visually impaired. This contributed in laying the groundwork for the modern day glasses. The invention improved society by allowing those with visual problems to be able to see better than before. Franklin’s skills in science and curiosity allowed him to invent devices like bifocals and the lightning rod which makes him a hero because he improved the quality of human lives. One of Franklin’s notable experiments is his electrical kite experiment. He decided to fly a kite in a thunderstorm and attach a leyden jar to the kite. After the experiment, he wrote a letter to Peter Collinson to explain his findings: “As frequent mention is made in public papers from Europe of the success of the Philadelphia experiment for drawing the electric fire from clouds by means of pointed rods of iron erected on high buildings, &c., it may be agreeable to the curious to be informed, that the same experiment has succeeded in Philadelphia” (Franklin, 1752). Franklin not only performed a dangerous experiment but also was able to see and then explain the properties of lightning to others. He figured this out by putting himself in harm’s way. He used this knowledge to keep cities, which were built primarily from wooden structures, safe from fire by inventing lightning rods and fire brigades. Franklin ’s invention of the lightning rod prevented house fires caused by lightning.

Benjamin Franklin’s assistance in the establishment of America and his usage of science to improve society makes him a true hero. Franklin’s help in drafting the Declaration of Independence, which formally separated America from Britain, allowed many to live in the land of the free. Not only that, but he also was able to get France to help the United States though it was risky. This would mean that there is a powerful nation backing the colonies. The victory allowed the people living in the United States would be free. Franklin invented the lightning rod to prevent fires and the bifocals to assist the visually impaired. I have worked with computers since a very young age, which means that I have a vast knowledge about technology. I have recently gotten into computer security and decided to help others. Currently, when I see anyone struggling to use any electronic devices, I attempt to solve the issue. In the near future, I plan on helping those in senior centers to better understand technology. Benjamin Franklin is one of America’s heroes: “Every civilization needs heroes,” (Sancton). Franklin inspires others to use their skills to help better society and the quality of human life. Benjamin Franklin is a superhero,  just without the superpowers. Franklin’s actions motivate others to improve the quality of human life and society. Benjamin Franklin is a true hero.

Works Cited "Benjamin Franklin." Business Leader Profiles for Students
​
, edited by Sheila Dow and Jaime E.
Noce, vol. 1, Gale, 1999. Biography In Context
​
,
link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1604000078/BIC?u=powa9245&sid=BIC&xid=76aab833
. Accessed 5 Apr. 2018. “Benjamin Franklin's Character Traits.” National Parks Service
​
, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.nps.gov/inde/learn/historyculture/people-franklin-traits.htm . “Ben Franklin's Inventions: Bifocals.” Ushistory.org
, Independence Hall Association, www.ushistory.org/franklin/science/bifocals.htm . Franklin, Benjamin. Benjamin Franklin: Autobiography
. Edited by Frank W Pine, 1898. “Heroism.” Merriam-Webster
, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heroism. Lemay, J. A. Leo. "Franklin, Benjamin 1706 – 1790." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
, Jan. 2010, p. 1. EBSCOhost
, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=b6h&AN=51816042&site=brc-live. Sancton, Julian. “Why America Worships Superheroes.” The Hive
, Vanity Fair, 24 Feb. 2016, www.vanityfair.com/news/2008/07/why-america-worships-superheroes . Sholem, Lee, creator. Adventures of Superman
. Superman Inc., 1952-1958. “The Declaration of Independence: Full Text.” Ushistory.org
, Independence Hall Association, www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/.