Though education burdened Douglass' life by revealing to him the harsh realities of the world he was living, it however created and fueled his desire for freedom spiritually. Without education Douglass was oblivious to the terrible truths of slavery and it was as if he was living his life with a cover over his eyes. Once he gained education however, this cover was unveiled and he could see what he had been shielded from. Though education made Douglass a smarter man, it made him a weaker one because of this reality. This however did not persist because education also taught Douglass about freedom from slavery and how to earn it. Freedom became his primary goal in life spiritually.
"My natural elasticity was crushed, my intellect languished, the disposition to read departed, the cheerful spark that lingered about my eye died the dark night of slavery closed in upon me; and behold a man transformed into a brute!" Douglass quoted this referring to the time he was living under Covey, the "slave breaker" who had a reputation of breaking, or diminishing all spirit from slaves. In this quotation, Douglass uses "light and dark" imagery and refers the word "dark" to the final phrase: "transformed into a brute." Darkness represents being knowledgless and unhuman (like a brute). Douglass uses this same imagery at the beginning of the quote when referring the word "spark" (light imagery) to the beginning phrase," my intellect languished, the disposition to read departed." This means that light represents knowledge and education. Douglass" defeat of Covey during the fight shows his overcoming of Coveys spirit-killing objectives. Douglass no longer feels like a brute after this incident and gains his bravery back. He feels that he is spiritually free in mind and helps him to be a stronger, more educated man who has more courage to become free from slavery phisically.
Douglass shows difficulty in maintaining and supporting education as well when living with Master Hugh.