Franklin's Long Setence Structure: Vanity or not?

Benjamin Franklin’s writing style is long and uninterrupted. On the fifth page of his autobiography, Franklin says, “Having emerged from the poverty and obscurity in which I was born and bred, to a state of affluence and some degree of reputation in the world, and having gone so far through life with a considerable share of felicity, the conducing means I made use of, which with the blessing of God so well succeeded, my posterity may like to know, as they may find some of them suitable to their own situations, and therefore fit to be imitated.” As this is only one sentence, Franklin attempts to prove the advancements he has made through society, by using long sentence structure. Franklin also shows his intellectual prowess by using large vocabulary words such as conducing, felicity, and posterity. While Franklin appears to be vain by using firstly writing an autobiography about himself, using big words, and using long sentence structure, he references several prominent persons of his day such as: Cotton Mather and John Locke. Each of these authors use what can appear to be convoluted writing as well, so it is most likely that his writing style is the style of that day. Another instance that proves that Franklin is not vain is his elaboration on the gifts that God has given him: “My belief of this induces me to hope, though I must no presume, that the same goodness will still be exercised toward me, in continuing that happiness, or enabling me to bear a fatal reverse, which I may experience as others have done: the complexion of my future fortune being known to Him only in whose power it is to bless to us even our afflictions.” Not only does this sentence show that Franklin respects God for giving him the gifts he has received, but the long sentence structure makes it appear like he is actually praying to God, not to let him lose the things which he has gained. He is trying to include every possible thing that God could do to take away his blessing, and by doing this, Franklin shows his true belief that God could take away everything he has, which shows that he thinks God really did give those things to him. Franklin also uses this long sentence structure when he is describing other persons, which may mean that he actually is elaborate about other people, not wanting to cut them short of their deserved attention. For example, Franklin references Mather’s observations of his grandfather Peter Folger, giving him all the credit which he deserves: “Without offense your real friend/ It is Peter Folgier.” Another example of this thoroughness in describing others occurs on page twelve where he describes his father: “In the latter, indeed, he was never employed…between contending parties.” Therefore, Franklin’s long sentence structure and large vocabulary is nothing other than his attempt to give people proper justice and the writing style of the Revolutionary period.