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The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin · Character

Abel James

Philadelphia merchant and friend who urged Franklin to write his autobiography.

minor

Also known as James

First appearance: The Story of the Autobiography

Abel James shows up with force in The Story of the Autobiography. The page is where that presence becomes real.

Old friend who recovered the lost manuscript and sent a copy to Franklin at Passy, urging him to complete the story.
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In The Story of the Autobiography: Old friend who recovered the lost manuscript and sent a copy to Franklin at Passy, urging him to complete the story. Later, in Endnotes: Noted as having written a letter urging…

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2 connections

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BFBenjamin Frank…CKCaptain KennedyAJAbel James

Relationship types

  • Other

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  • Extended Network and Collaborators
  • Protagonist

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

SetupAftermathClimax
  • Setup
  • Breaking point
  • Aftermath
  • Closing

This excerpt marks the dramatic climax because Franklin transitions from merely recording his personal success…

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In the story

Abel James appears across 2 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

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See Abel James in The Story of the Autobiography