Franklin's Autobiography

        It is notable that in his autobiography, Franklin spends most of the book talking about politics and other topics that pertain to society -- topics that are not intimately personal.  Except for one small, short paragraph that does not go into detail and is never brought up again.  Franklin writes,
"In 1736 I lost one of my sons, a fine boy of four years old, by the smallpox, taken in the common way. I long regretted bitterly, and still regret that I had not given it to him by inoculation.  This i mention for the sake of parents who omit that operation, on the supposition that they should never forgive themselves if a child died under it; my example showing that the regret may be the same either way, and that, therefore, the safer should be chosen" (Franklin 79).
Perhaps Franklin does not spend much time on this because of his hurt from the incident, or perhaps it just does not affect him that much anymore because he has moved on with his life.

        On a different note, Franklin's Autobiography as a whole really stands out as an example of the idealism of that time period.  Men were trying to become "perfect" -- make inventions, become politically famous, become strongly intellectual.  Franklin let's his audience know that he is proud of the work he accomplished throughout his life.  His text is an example of a man who achieved the "American Dream" -- a goal of many Americans in both the past and present.