The Way to Wealth Literary Elements

Advice Essay

Colonial America

Franklin writes the essay from the perspective of his pen-name "Poor Richard", but much of the advice in the essay is offered by the character of Father Abraham.

Advisory. Using a humorous tone, "The Way to Wealth" attempts to advise readers how to live their lives and spend their money. The use of irony in the essay underscores this to reinforce the moral.

While the essay has no antagonist (beside impulsive spending), Father Abraham acts as the main speaker.

How one should spend one's money. All of Poor Richard's adages are intended to direct people how to live a prosperous life. Father Abraham attempts to use this advice to inform the crowd how they could live better, more productive lives.

When the crowd does not listen to Father Abraham's advice. They, instead, spend their money at the store on superfluous goods. They have failed to heed both Poor Richard and Father Abraham's warnings. It is only the reader who can go away to make use of the advice in his daily life.

Benjamin Franklin's (or Poor Richard's) statement that: "I concluded at length, that the people were the best judges of my merit; for they buy my works..." All those who are wise are familiar with Poor Richard's work and adages. As the crowd is unfamiliar with Poor Richard's work, they do not listen to his advice given by Father Abraham. Instead, they rush to waste their money. Ignoring Poor Richard's advice shows they are totally unfamiliar with its use.

Poor Richard's solution to the heavy taxes levied by the government is to offer his advice. Though the advice is useful, it does little to defend against the abuses of the government. It offers the people some help, but it can not lead them to total monetary success alone. It must coincide with a change in personality and habit that will lead to a greater future.

The entire essay acts as an allusion to the 1733 edition of "Poor Richard's Almanac". It is a distillation of all the advice contained within the almanac which Benjamin Franklin wanted to highlight. The essay then is essay and accessible to the public instead of having to look through the dense almanac.

Most of Poor Richard's adages employ imagery of some form to appeal to the reader. The advice is often a simple metaphor such as: "the sleeping fox catches no poultry". An animal metaphor for how sloth makes one unproductive and unsuccessful. The imagery of the advice acts as a small parable to make it memorable and easy to understand.

"The Way to Wealth" concludes on the paradox of ignored advice. While Father Abraham offers Poor Richard's advice to the crowd, they ignore it to instead go waste their many. Only Poor Richard heeds his own advice in a way. It is impossible for the other people to be exactly like Poor Richard, but they do not listen at all.

The parallel between the identity of Poor Richard and Father Abraham. Father Abraham acts as Poor Richard's speaker through the essay as Poor Richard is more the personality. With Poor Richard's advice, Father Abraham has grown rich using Poor Richard's advice. It links how the advice is useful for both the young and old. Franklin wishes to show how such is advice is universally helpful.

N/A

Father Abraham embodies those that embrace Poor Richard's advice. Father Abraham is wise, successful, and aware of the world. He personifies the lived wisdom of Poor Richard's advice. With it, he has been able to grow to success. Though, as he simply restates Poor Richard's advice, he does not have much of a personality.