When studying The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and A Vindication of the Rights of Woman a reader, may find an interesting relationship between education and those without power in the social structure. One would think that education can solve the atrocities found in society, yet this is not always the case. Although The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and A Vindication of the Rights of Woman acknowledge the freeing power of education, these texts suggest that knowledge isn’t a universally positive state of enlightenment as one may expect, rather, the human ambition to attain knowledge and education drives one to understand the dismal state of our existence and find no consolation in that wisdom. Since it is inherent …show more content…
Since education brings about a realization in humans of their condition in life, Wollstonecraft relates how one can, “imagine love with celestial charms, and dote on the grand ideal object, but this paradise would soon be violated by the entrance of some unexpected guest” (Wollstonecraft 193). In other words, an ideal life can be imagined, while never being able to exist outside the imagination. The reality of life becomes clear with an understanding of the dismal human condition. Human’s imaginations are amazing objects, yet through the knowledge of the human condition, the true and miserable state of life is revealed. In the case of Douglass, he already knew life was bad under the system of slavery, yet his education and ability to read allowed him to see what other slaves could not. After reading the book The Colombian Orator, Douglass, “saw his wretched condition, without remedy and envied his fellow slaves for their stupidity” (Douglass 24). This view of his life is a direct result of gaining an education and the ability to read. Because Douglass was able to read The Colombian Orator and open his eyes to the true evils of slavery and the unutterable condition of all slaves. Thus, the education one receives leads to an understanding of the dismal state of the human condition and causes them to understand that fact forever, often with the regret of that knowledge. Some may object that the education received does not condemn humans to understand their dismal condition, but provides the ability to be optimistic for the future, rather than dwelling on the past and current states of each individual’s existence. Douglass even claims that from his education he became aware of the abolitionist movement and dedicated his life to working for the cause of ending slavery (Douglass 25). While it is true that many of