Ben+Franklin

The Whistle

This story begins with Ben Franklin saying that everybody should get as much good out of the world as they can, and make sure that we don't pay too much for our whistles. But that most of the unhappy people in this world do pay too much for there whistles. He then tells a story of how as a child, as spent four times as much as he should have on a whistle. His siblings made fun of him for this, and the embarasment took away the fun he had in the whistle. This led him to ask himself whenever he was about to purchase something unecsasry, "Don't give to much for the whistle." Growing up, he noticed that many men gave too much for there whistles. When he saw a judge, sacrificing important things to attain succes, he thought that he paid too much for his whistle. When he saw someone chasing popularity, and neglecting his own affairs, he thought that he paid too much for his whistle. When he saw a man, that he gave up friendhsip and the pleasure of hhelping others, he thought he gave too much for his whiste. When he saw a man that was irracional in his persut of pleasure, he thought he spent too much for his whistle. When he saw people fall into debt inorder to have the latest fashion, he thought that the payed too much for there whistle. When he saw a beutiful girl that was married to a jerk, he thought she payed too much for her whistle. He felt that a majority of the unhappines in this world is brought from false estimates of people whistles. But at the he he tells the reader that even though he is boasting all this knowledge, there are things in this world so tempting that you can't help but pay too much for your whistle.

The theme that I picked up on while reading this story was not sacrificing too much for the the things you want in life. The recuring "whistle" was symbolic of the things in life. You should't give, or sacrifice too much in order to get certain things. LIke when he said, "When I see a beutiful, sweet-tempered girl married to an ill-natured brute of a husband, What a pity, say I, that she should pay so much for a whistle." To me this saying that you shouldnt settle for a person when you get married. Everybody is special in there own way, and you should find someone that is equillay special. You shoudnt sell youself short when picking a spouse. The act of settling for a mean person was how she payed too much for her whistle. Also, "If I see one fond of appearance, or fine clothes, fine houses, fine furniture, fine equipages, all above his fortune, for which he contracts debts, and ends his career in a prison, Alas! say I, he has paid dear, very dear, for his whistle." This line is very straight forward. It's saying that when a person gives there future away, and eventually there freedom for some superficial thing such as appearance, they gave too much for the thing they want. But the pursuit of pleasure can also lead you down a road of sorrow, "When I met with a man of pleasure, sacrificing every laudable improvement of the mind, or of his fortune, to mere corporeal sensations, and ruining his health in their pursuit, Mistaken man, said I, you are providing pain for yourself, instead of pleasure; you give too much for your whistle." This line is on the other end of the spectrum then the other lines. This person was sacrificing his well being in the pursuit of some cheap thrills and pleasures. The other parts in the story where people that probably could have used a little more pleasure in there life. This line is very showing of a lot of people in this worl.d Some people are so worried about how they'll get there next thrill that they dont worry about there health, and just plain need to grow up. All these line show that people need to being better at accesing the worth of things in there life, and don't sacrifice too much in the persuit of the things you want.

I felt that "The Whistle" was a intersting story that can definatly be related to the world. People all the time are settling, or giving too much for the things they want. SOmetimes people have a inabbility to acces the value of a object because they are blinded by the want for the object, or thing. Ben Franklin felt that much up the unhappines in this world is brought on by the giving of too much for people whistles. I feel that this is so true. IF people were able to give the proper amount of there time, or whatever the case may be, they wouldnt be sacrifing the wel being of the other parts of there life. If a persons pursuit of welth is taking them away from there children, they are giving up way more then wealth is worth. People need to see that money is not more important that watching your children grow up, and if your job is taking you away from your kids you should find a new one. The world would be alot happier if everybody wasnt sacrifing too mich for things. It's a important skill to be able to keep things in perspective and not pay too much for your whistle.