This essay examines the literary self-fashioning of Benjamin Franklin in his Autobiography in terms of politeness and sociability. Looking only at the way to wealth and the pursuit of moral perfection in part 1 and 2, literary critics have long regarded his self-identity as a “self-made man” or “the first American.” Recent historical studies reveal, however, that the real Franklin was cosmopolitan rather than an American nationalist and a person who pursued the public good rather than private interests. Therefore, analyzing the text in terms of his relationship with others and his concern for public affairs, this essay reinterprets his Autobiography in the context of 18th-century social and intellectual history.

Politeness and sociability was a social norm spread among the upper- and middling-sorts during the commercialization of the 18th-century Anglo-American world. It emphasized sophisticated manners which became a necessity in order to be a gentleman. Moreover, this norm enabled people to develop public spirit through social interaction with others. Colonists, including Franklin, shared these values through many devices, such as clubs and balls as well as the Spectator and John Locke’s Some Thoughts concerning Education, etc.

Franklin himself acquired politeness and sociability through literacy, the skill of conversation, and swimming. First, he understood literacy as a “principle means of my advancement” to gentleman, so he learned “the manner in writing” by using the Spectator. Second, he corrected his habit of conversation with “the Socratic method” in order to please others. Third, his practice in swimming clarifies the relationship between body and mind in the self-fashioning of the 18th-century man. It was essential for a gentleman to discipline his body as well as to control his mind. Thus, the description of his self-education in part 1 was written as a process to fashion himself into a fine gentleman rather than a self-made man.

The companionship of others is important for the self-fashioning of Franklin in the text. The norm of politeness and sociability provided him with the criteria to evaluate a person. He emphasized the ability to please others in conversation and acquired “better habits of conversation” through discussion with the members of the Junto. Franklin’s usage of “friends” indicates that he had business interests among those in his club as well as his patrons. He often acquired his friends by literary sociability. Such social capital was fundamental to his business success.

At the same time, Franklin developed his public spirit through learning politeness and sociability. At the beginning of part 1, he foretold his later establishment as a public-spirited gentleman in part 3 by representing his ancestors and his young self as his archetype. The episode of the founding of the subscription\ library illustrates the process by which his private sociability with friends developed into the public sphere by the mediation of books. From this viewpoint, his famous 13 virtues aim at establishing his public spirit rather than mere self-discipline. Thus, the whole design of the Autobilography is based upon his self-identity as public-spirited gentleman.