What Is Franklins Argument in Remarks Concerning the...

â€Å"Remarks concerning the savages of North America is a part of Early American Literature that highlights Franklins criticism of the Native Americans being referred to as savages. This essay is based on Franklin’s experiences with the social and cultural nature of the Native Americans. Franklins description of native life are described in such a way as to emphasize some of the failings of his own western society. This essay was written in 1784. In this remarkable essay Franklin makes observations on how the society of Native Americans differs from that of white English America. The main point that Franklin was aiming for is that Native Americans are anything but savages. Franklin wanted to convince people that just†¦show more content†¦They then would wait a little bit after the person was done speaking to recollect his thoughts and continue if he has left anything out. They see it as highly indecent to interrupt the speaker. â€Å"The colonist used the concept of the noble savage as a furthering of their own esteem and measuring their progress as civilized people. Although they never doubted that they were the superior culture, the settlers realized they could learn from the Native Americans who knew how to survive in this strange New World. Franklin goes even farther in his argument and points out that, in some regards, the Native American culture and its people are even more polite than the British. The Indians did not allow their young men to go to Williamsburg college because the Indians felt that the white man had no moral values when it came to living in the wilderness, building cabins, or be teachers and counselors to their young. Another example that Franklin touched on was when the Susquehannah Indian chiefs and the Swedish minister exchanged stories of how the the earth and mankind were created. The Swedish minister held a service for the Indians telling them about our English god and I am quite sure he was trying to convert them to Christianity. The Indians acknowledged his religion but declined to use it in their society. The Indians responded with a story of their