American literature overview and major works

American Lit

In Self-Reliance, Ralph Waldo Emerson states poetically, "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines." The passage reflects the underlying philosophy of transcendentalism, which values the organic processes of nature over the highly rigid, overly rational, mechanistic underpinning of the scientific world. Emerson, though, directly singles out "little statesmen, philosophers, and divines" to point out that a dogmatic adherence to ideology precludes critical thought. Emerson continues, "With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do."

From a historian's perspective, Benjamin Franklin cannot be considered a "little statesman" if for no other reason than his name being a household term in the United States. Yet fame alone does not a great soul make. Based on his Autobiography as well as on the maxims of Poor Richard's Almanack, Emerson would have to admit that Benjamin Franklin does not fall pray to foolish consistency. In fact, Franklin and Emerson are on the same page, both lauding the potential of the human spirit for perpetual growth and change.

In his Autobiography, as well as in Poor Richard's Almanack, Franklin develops a sometimes austere but always realistic perspective on personal development. Franklin stresses self-discipline in the same way that Emerson emphasizes self-reliance. Like Emerson, Franklin understands the importance for critical thought and for ceasing what can be called a foolish consistency.

Part Two of Franklin's Autobiography contains a telling passage in which the author admits that the pursuit of absolute perfection may be possible but the attainment of perfection is impossible. "It was about this time I conceiv'd the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection…but I soon found I had undertaken a task of more difficulty than I bad imagined," (82).

Franklin proceeds to outline what he describes as "necessary or desirable" virtues (82-83). These thirteen virtues include such practices as temperance, silence, order, industry, frugality, sincerity, justice, and moderation. Franklin then claims that his goal is to "acquire the habitude of all these virtues," or to make these traits second nature (85). Franklin aims for a nearly saint-like existence. Now while Franklin might be concerned with order and habitude in the pursuit of moral perfection, he is not falling pray to a foolish consistency. Emerson is not disparaging consistency itself, which is what Franklin aims for in his "habitude" of moral action and his pursuit of mental order. Rather, Emerson criticizes the type of consistency that dulls the mind. Franklin's perpetual quest for perfection precludes him from being too consistent, even if it is ironic that order is one of his stated virtues. Because Franklin admits that the attainment of moral perfection is practically impossible, his consistency is not foolish at all.

One section of his Autobiography that would fall under Emerson's greater scrutiny is also in Part II, as Franklin admonishes himself for not being orderly enough. The author begins to impose upon himself a rigid daily schedule, which he lists in chart form in the book. Yet through his explorations of order, Franklin admits that it is "extremely difficult to acquire" as a virtue (p. 88). Franklin further claims that of all the virtues, "my scheme of order gave me the most trouble; and I found that, tho' it might be practicable where a man's business was such as to leave him the disposition of his time, that of a journeyman printer, for instance, it was not possible to be exactly observed by a master, who must mix with the world, and often receive people of business at their own hours," (p. 88). Franklin is therefore agreeing with Emerson that forcing human beings into an orderly and consistent life is foolish and squanders the human spirit on petty matters.

Some of the proverbs and maxims that comprise Poor Richard's Almanack seem foolish or at least silly; and overall there is a thematic consistency that makes Franklin's Puritanical worldview seem remarkably consistent. In the Autobiography, Franklin admits that the Almanack is about "inculcated industry and frugality," (95). However, Franklin still does not fall pray to what Emerson would call a foolish consistency in Poor Richard's Almanack. The proverbs in Poor Richard's Almanack demonstrate Franklin's insatiable hunger for improving human experience via self-discipline and moral virtue. In fact, Franklin's main reason for offering the proverbs is to encourage honesty and prevent foolish consistency.