Since the dawn of time, the opportunity and ability to learn have divided the rich from the poor and the elite from ordinary. In today's world, for many, the higher the level of education, the better life is. As in the story of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American slave, learning may reveal unpleasant or embarrassing things, but for the most part, having an education is a blessing. Although this has not always been the case throughout history, Douglass will affirm in the end that learning is not a curse. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Frederick Douglass tends to fall for claims that being a slave and obtaining an education are incompatible. From the beginning to the end of the book, Douglass struggles with both the desire to learn and the complete abandonment of life. For example, in chapter seven he says, “I sometimes felt that learning to read was a curse rather than a blessing. This had given me an idea of ​​my miserable condition, without remedy. It opened my eyes to the horrible abyss, but no ladder to climb out. In the case of Frederick Douglass, learning to read and write and becoming more intelligent tormented him and for a time had a negative impact on his mental state. Through his learning, he was more sensitive to the desperate situation he and the other slaves found themselves in, which made him absolutely miserable. When he achieved his goal of becoming literate, he opened up a whole new world and a new perspective in which he viewed the world. However, this made the world he lived in, as a slave, even more difficult to survive. On several occasions, Douglass considered suicide in order to free himself from the pain he was forced to endure on a daily basis. He felt like he was trapped in a world of servitude with no way out. Later in the book, Douglass states after his time with Covey: "My natural elasticity was crushed, my intellect languished, the disposition to read disappeared, the cheerful spark that lingered around my eyes died: the dark night of slavery closed in on me; and here is a man transformed into a brute.” Douglass was beaten not only physically, but also mentally. He realized that everything he had endured to learn to read and write may have been for nothing. As a slave, he knew that literacy would likely never be put to use, and this knowledge made him angrier and more frustrated than ever with the conditions and treatment. Despite this, at the end of the story, when Douglass escapes slavery, he realizes that learning is essential to becoming free. As a slave, his intellect seemed like a curse, but in the end, it was the greatest gift. In today's world, the opportunity and ability to learn is almost never a curse. Obtaining an education can often make the difference in earning more, living better, and finding happiness. Education plays a vital role in life as it broadens our skills and expertise. There are currently movements all over the world to give everyone the opportunity to educate themselves, regardless of race, gender or income level. Thousands of people have pushed for education for all because of its importance in today's society. If it were true that learning was a curse rather than a blessing, people would not fight for causes like affordable or even free schooling. He..