Context of Revolutionary America & Life of Benjamin Franklin

• The English colonies in America were founded to increase England’s wealth and broaden its influence in the "New World"
• Thirteen colonies were established successfully, including Virginia (1607), Massachusetts (1620), New York (1626), Maryland (1633), Rhode Island (1636), Connecticut (1636), New Hampshire (1638), Delaware (1638), North Carolina (1653), South Carolina (1663), New Jersey (1664), Pennsylvania (1682), and Georgia (1732)
• The American Revolutionary War, fought from 1775 to 1783, was a result of the colonies opposing imposed taxes by England, leading to the American War of Independence
• Literature during the revolutionary period in America was politically motivated and mostly revolutionary in character, reflecting the social and political climate of the time
• The majority of literature during this period was politically motivated and mostly revolutionary in character, reflecting the social and political climate of the time
• Writers of the revolutionary period believed that using "reason," societies could manage without depending on authorities and past traditions
• The revolutionary period in America was characterized by a social consciousness known as the "Age of Reason" or "Rationalism," emphasizing freedom of speech, freedom from arbitrary rulers, and freedom to question existing laws and institutions
• Rationalism during this period was a reaction against the conservative and religious lifestyle of the previous period, emphasizing logic over emotion and the discovery of natural laws through reason
• Poetry during the revolutionary period was characterized by simplicity, order, and an emphasis on reason, while prose mostly contained the revolutionary movement for independence and the unification of the nation
• Literary nonfiction, a distinctive type of evolving nonfiction writing during this period, combined factual narratives with literary techniques, involving meditations over factual texts
• A memoir is a form of literary nonfiction in which an author recounts experiences from their life in a narrative form, focusing more on personal accounts and memories rather than a strict historical account
• The Whistle by Benjamin Franklin:

  • Franklin reflects on a childhood experience of buying a whistle at a high price, learning the lesson not to give too much for unnecessary things
  • He extends this lesson to various scenarios in adulthood, where people give too much for their "whistles," symbolizing overvalued pursuits
• Franklin's story illustrates the concept of not overvaluing material possessions or pursuits, emphasizing the importance of wise choices
• The narrative serves as a moral lesson on the consequences of placing excessive value on things that may not bring true happiness
• Franklin's reflections highlight the theme of making prudent choices and avoiding the trap of overestimating the worth of certain desires
• The story conveys a message about the dangers of misjudging the value of things and the potential consequences of pursuing them at a high cost
• Franklin's analogy of the whistle symbolizes the idea of paying too much for something that may not bring genuine satisfaction
• The narrative encourages readers to reflect on their own pursuits and consider whether they may be giving too much for their "whistles"
• The concept of not giving too much for one's "whistle" can be applied to various aspects of life, cautioning against overvaluing transient pleasures or pursuits
• Franklin's story prompts readers to evaluate their priorities and reassess the true worth of their pursuits to avoid paying too much for their "whistles"
• The lesson from Franklin's story is to make thoughtful choices and not sacrifice valuable aspects of life for pursuits that may not bring lasting fulfillment
• The narrative serves as a reminder to consider the true value of one's pursuits and to avoid giving too much for things that may not bring genuine happiness
• Franklin's tale emphasizes the importance of discernment in evaluating the worth of one's pursuits and not paying excessively for fleeting pleasures
• The analogy of the whistle in Franklin's story symbolizes the idea of not overestimating the value of certain desires or possessions
• The story by Benjamin Franklin conveys a timeless message about the dangers of misjudging the value of things and the potential consequences of pursuing them at a high cost
• The lesson from Franklin's story is to exercise prudence in evaluating the worth of one's pursuits and not to sacrifice meaningful aspects of life for fleeting pleasures
• The story by Benjamin Franklin underscores the importance of making wise choices and not placing excessive value on pursuits that may not lead to lasting satisfaction
• Franklin's tale encourages readers to reflect on the true value of their pursuits and to avoid paying too much for things that may not bring genuine fulfillment
• In the study of Attachment, it is defined as a strong reciprocal emotional bond between an infant and a primary caregiver
• Schaffer and Emerson's 1964 study on Attachment aimed to identify stages of attachment and find a pattern in the development of an attachment between infants and parents
• Participants in the Attachment study were 60 babies from Glasgow
• Freud's superego is the moral component of the psyche, representing internalized societal values and standards
• Benjamin Franklin, a "Founding Father," wrote "The Whistle" in 1779, reflecting on an event from his childhood that taught him to be mindful when making any sort of expenditure
• Values, attitudes, and habits are key elements to assess in texts like "The Whistle" to understand the embedded messages
• In "The Whistle," Benjamin Franklin speaks about six categories of people who pay too much for their "whistle," emphasizing the importance of prioritizing in life
• Benjamin Franklin's 1779 letter to Anne Louise Brillon de Jouy contained the story of "The Whistle," teaching the importance of being mindful when making any expenditure of time, effort, attention, dignity, and self-respect
• Values are stable long-lasting beliefs about what is important to a person, attitudes are mental dispositions towards others and circumstances, and habits are usual behaviors resulting from values and attitudes
• In "The Whistle," Benjamin Franklin speaks about six categories of people who pay too much for their "whistle," giving more importance to things, people, and places that need the least priority in life
• Task 2:

  • In pairs, describe the six categories mentioned in the text and assess specific values, attitudes, and habits embedded in the text
• Task 3: Look for compelling statistics showing how the six categories of people who pay too much for their "whistles" apply in the Philippine setting