Benjamin
Franklin… What can I say about Franklin? Well, perhaps I can begin with the picture I decided to put up on this page.
Franklin often plays the part of Adams’ straight man - that is, while Adams is pacing around pissed off that congress
can’t finally declare the colonies independent, Franklin is quietly moving around behind Adams to get something done
about it (namely getting Lee to ride down into Virginia and get a proposal on independence.) Another example is when Adams
gets off his classic line about Franklin, Washington and the horse conducting the Revolution all by themselves. Franklin says
he likes it, dispelling Adams’ anger and actually getting Adams to laugh.
Franklin
also serves much the same purpose for the rest of the movie. When things get too serious and heavy, Franklin enters a line
to lighten things up a bit. For example, when the verbal jousting between Adams and Dickinson becomes too heated, Franklin
asks Dickinson to stop banging, "how’s a man to sleep?" Franklin does make some penetrating points about Americans being
a new nationality, separate and above all distinctive from the English. Then Adams manages to pick it up and continue the
heated exchange. Franklin is also quite funny falling asleep in various places, and hinting at what he planned on doing with
a certain lady he was meeting. "I’d ask you along but talking makes her nervous."
I think
that in this movie Franklin’s distinctive characteristic is that he doesn’t take anything too seriously, especially
not himself, unless it is deservingly important. Franklin does know when to take a stand on something. He doesn’t
actively participate in congress until it’s time to get the postponement for the writing of a declaration. He tries
to convince Jefferson he can get Adams to write the declaration (albeit unsuccessfully). Ultimately, though it was at Adams’ behest, Franklin
finally stands up to Dickinson and gains control of the Pennsylvania delegation by winning over Wilson at the critical moment.
Phew.
Not bad for half an hour… I’ll get more up here eventually…
