Author(s)

Yilin Fang ¹

Affiliation(s)

¹ Faculty of Foreign Languages, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315211, China

Corresponding Author

Yilin Fang

ABSTRACT

This paper examines how Puritan values and the idea of the American Dream are closely connected in The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. By looking at Franklin's life and ideas, the paper shows how values such as hard work, saving money, self-improvement, and caring for the community influenced Franklin and many early Americans. The study explains how Franklin took these Puritan religious values and turned them into practical advice for success in life and society. It also explores how the American Dream, believing that anyone can achieve success through effort and ability, is both shown and questioned in Franklin's story. While Franklin's example has inspired generations, the paper also points out that this success story can sometimes hide real social problems and inequalities. In the end, the paper argues that Franklin's autobiography continues to shape American ideas about success, work, and morals, but also invites us to think critically about the fairness of these beliefs.

KEYWORDS

Benjamin Franklin; Puritan Values; American Dream; Hard Work; Self-Improvement; Social Values; The Autobiography

CITE THIS PAPER

Yilin Fang. Puritanical Concepts and the American Dream in the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Lecture Notes on Language and Literature (2026). Vol. 9, No.1, 51-55. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/langl.2026.090107.

REFERENCES

[1] Franklin, B. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Edited by Leonard W. Labaree, Yale University Press, 1964.
[2] Adams, JT. The Epic of America. Little, Brown and Company, 1931.
[3] Long, J. "Puritanism and the American Dream in The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin." Western Academic Journal, vol. 16, 2020, pp. 30-32.
[4] Deng, J. "Benjamin Franklin's Religious Views as Seen from His Autobiography." Journal of Northeast Agricultural University (Social Science Edition), vol. 12, no. 6, 2014, pp. 34-39.

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