As Helen Keller said, “Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.” (Famous Quotes, 2009) Robert Schumann not only left his legacy but also his musical gifts, many of which contain personal emotions, thoughts, and connections, possibly made richer and closer because of his struggles. Since Robert Schumann was born two hundred and five years ago we can’t be sure of his diagnosis or the relationship of his music to his diagnosis. We can look at the connection between his most prolific periods and his manic periods, we can examine the depth and soul of his music to his struggles mentally and personally, and we can look at his letters and relationships and work. Throughout history we can see artists throwing their struggles into their art whether it is composing, performing, painting, or writing; they cope with and express their suffering through their art so, essentially, their suffering helps create and irreplaceable art while art makes helps them cope. So although it is unfortunate that anyone has to suffer from mental illness, perhaps we can take comfort in the silver lining of the creations and intimate expressions that people can share via art. “He transformed the pain of his tormented life into ecstatic beauty.” (Simpson,