The version of Benjamin Franklin created by Robert Lawson overlaps with the real historical figure, though Ben, the character, is vastly different from Franklin. Franklin’s interest in printing, his reputation as an accomplished diplomat, and his significant role in the American Revolution are all reflected in Ben. However, the qualities that comprise Ben’s character—a comical amalgam of flaws revealed in unexpectedly funny images—are at odds with the real Franklin, or, at least, the man people believe to be the real Franklin. This discrepancy is reflected in Amos’s mockery of Ben whenever he behaves in a manner that contradicts his public persona.

Franklin became a printer’s apprentice because he loved to read, and this interest, and many more facts from Franklin’s life, are reflected in Amos’s descriptions of Ben. Ben feels, for example, that “THE DISSEMINATION OF KNOWLEDGE [is] MAN’S HIGHEST CALLING” (30). Franklin’s penchant for dispensing wisdom emerged early when he created “Silence Dogood,” a fictional widow who wrote letters containing life advice and social criticism to the newspaper. Ben’s predilection for offering his “wisdom” in the form of maxims is highlighted by Amos, who repeatedly casts doubt on their applicability and truthfulness and suggests that one-liners cannot contain real wisdom, however pithy or memorable.