Ben+Franklin

THE BENEFIT OF GOING TO LAW
 * // by: Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) //**

>> WO beggars traveling along,One blind, the other lame.Pick'd up an oyster on the way,To which they both laid claim:The matter rose so high, that theyResolv'd to go to law,As often richer fools have done,Who quarrel for a straw.A lawyer took it straight in hand,Who knew his business wasTo mind nor one nor t'other side,But make the best o' the cause,As always in the law's the case;So he his judgment gave,And lawyer-like he thus resolv'dWhat each of them should have;Blind plaintif, lame defendant, shareThe friendly laws impartial care,A shell for him, a shell for thee,The middle is the //lawyer's fee//. > > > Summary: In this poem Ben Franklin explains that two men, one blind, the other lame, were walking down the road together and came along and found a oyster. They argued over who should get the oyster and could not agree. So they went to a lawyer to settle the matter. They went to court and the **judgement** was given. It was ruled that a shell would go to each one and the middle of the oyster goes to the lawyer for the lawyer fee.

Correlation:

1.) "It was ruled that a shell would go to each one and the middle of the oyster goes to the lawyer for the lawyer fee." In this excerpt Ben Franklin uses a metaphor of the oyster to explain that when you take things to court for a decision you don't get anything of value out of the experience and is not worth the trouble. 2.) This poem also reveals a common **stereo type** of lawyers. It explains that when things are taken to court the lawyer receives all of the money and fame, while the defendants and plaintiffs **get screwed out of - a little informal t**heir livelihood and money. I feel that these stereo types are still true today, people still feel that lawyers take advantage of their clients and get too much money for their time.

3.) This poem also reveals Ben **Franklins** opinion about taking things to court. The poem's title "THE BENEFIT OF GOING TO L__AW" is an irony- GOOD!__ In the poem the two beggars gain no benefit at all from this experience, thus showing Ben's opinion on taking issues up in the court of law. Ben Franklin seems to have a dislike towards lawyers and all of the fees they make people pay and he also seems to resent the people that take these issues up i the court system.

Reflections: I loved this poem. It was written to the common people of America and expresses concern for high lawye**r fees, and** __resentment__ for the people that took small, unimportant, issues that could be settled amongst themselves to court. I found this poem to have lots of insight into what Ben Franklin personally believes.