1.) What Principles Do Franklin And Thoreau Propose For

1.) What principles do Franklin and Thoreau propose for the conduct of life? To what extent do their principles agree? Benjamin Franklin and Ralph Waldo Emerson propose certain principles for the conduct of life. Franklin is very clear in his proposed principles for life, as he clearly states them in his â€Å"The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin†. One of his main principles is the concept of hard work. Franklin believes that the best way to succeed in life is to work hard. Hard work is a key element in how to conduct one’s life. Franklin also touches on the idea that religion allows people to live in good conduct in their lives, as it gives people good values they must uphold. This also contributes to the principle that he believes in, which†¦show more content†¦Fredrick Douglass and Henry Melville both critique Christianity as it was practiced in 19th-century America. Douglass illuminates the aspect of Christianity in relation to the way Christians also uphold the institution of slavery. He views it has ironic that those who claim the Christian faith also believe that there is nothing wrong in the practice of slavery. Douglass questions how one can be a true Christian and still not see that slavery in morally and religiously wrong. He ultimately critiques the way people practice the faith and still uphold slavery. Douglass goes as far to say that the slave master’s even become crueler when they find religion, because then they feel as if they can do no wrong. As Douglass states in relation to slavery and religion, â€Å"Here we have religion and robbery the allies of each other – devils dressed in angels’ robes, and hell presenting the semblance of paradise.† Henry Melville also critique’s the practice of Christianity in the 19th century America in his work â€Å"Bartleby the Scrivener†. Melville illustrates the idea of a higher spiritual purpose in relation to societal standards. It also questions what makes a person good ideally in the eyes of society, which relates to how society views a religious person. As religion, such as Christianity, defines how people interacted with others and what actions were associated with a Christian person in 19th century American Society. Melville questions the idea thatShow MoreRelatedWalts Whitmans Vision of America in Leaves of Grass17685 Words   |  71 PagesWhile†©analyzing†©Walt†©Whitman’s†©poetry†©and†©reading†©his†©verses,†©it†©is†©important†©to†© keep†©in†©mind†©that†©he†©was†©not†©a†©politician,†©nor†©a†©philospher†©or†©essayist†©and†©therefore†© could†©afford†©to†©disclose†©his†©human†©side.†©He†©wrote†©in†©Ã‚ «Song†©of†©Myself »:†©Ã‚ «Do†©I†©contradict†© myself?†©Very†©well†©then†©I†©contradict†©myself,†©(I†©am†©large,†©I†©contain†©multitudes.) » †©Ã¢â‚¬ ©Thus†©some†© 1 of†©his†©ideas†©might†©be†©confusing†©for†©someone†©trying†©to†©read†©or†©interpret†©his†©poetry†©in†©one†© particular†©way†©or†©another.†©This†©statement†©proves†©the†©poet’s†©sincerity†©and†©acceptance†© that†©people,†©while†©remaining†©themselves