The Romantic Era was an artistic, literary, and intellectual movement that originated in Europe toward the end of the 18th century. This movement gave the people a voice to express their feelings and emotions within the arts. The movement also emphasized intense emotion as an authentic source of an artistic experience. In the song by Nas called "I Can" speaks of the surety of knowing who you are and knowing that you can be whoever you want to be if you work hard at it. Frederick Douglas also had the same idea in the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas, Douglas often spoke on the importance of education, the things that he did to educate himself, and how he felt free although he wasn't. Douglas's views on the importance of education are still relevant in today's contemporary society.
Throughout Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, the importance of education becomes apparent as Frederick Douglass' opinion wavers. Towards the beginning of the narrative, Douglass is eager to learn, and when his master forbids his learning, it only fuels his desire to further his education. He did not let his master's words stop him from wanting to learn. Would this stop you from pursuing your love of learning? It would be, but I guess Douglas's love for education was more significant than his fear of getting caught. He made education a game with the local boys that he played with when he had to run errands for his Master. Once he is finally able to read, however, he becomes restless with his life and blames education for his discontent. Although he views education as an important tool to gain his freedom, he realizes that he desperately wants his freedom from slavery. He knows that he can put his education to good use by helping other slaves to gain their freedom. In Nas's song "I Can," he also si...