Malala Yousafzai, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, and campaigner for women’s education, was shot by the Taliban in 2012 while travelling home from school. Malala went on to write a well written autobiography, with the help of Patricia McCormick, called I am Malala. In her autobiography, Malala juxtaposes her own beliefs and ethics to the Pakistan society and the Taliban, as well as utilizing imagery and cultural diction to portray the book as more realistic to the lifestyle.
Analysis
Yousafzai juxtaposes her beliefs about school and women’s rights to those of the Pakistan society and to the Taliban. Malala states, ¨I am a hopeful person-my friends may say too hopeful, maybe even a little crazy. But I simply did not believe that this man could stop us. School was our right,¨ (Yousafzai 73). She emphasised throughout that education was a right that could not be taken away by anyone and the right to education was a natural God given right. The Pakistan communities did not recognize the right for women to have free education and persecuted families that supported the right for women’s education. The Taliban did not just punish those who supported women’s education but as well as women who did not follow ¨correct conduct¨. As a little girl, these actions were perturbing to Malala. She did not understand why, ¨… How was I bringing shame? I was a child, a ten-year-old girl,¨ (51). In American culture, women do not have to worry about what they are wearing or if there will be consequences for receiving an education. The rights that Malala strives to receive in her country are luxuries that Americans take advantage of. By juxtaposing the rights and ethics that Malala has to those of the Pakistan community illustrates to readers the importance to be thankful for the rights that Americans recieve.
By utilizing cultural diction, the autobiography has more credibility and seems more realistic. Malala utilized words from her culture like, ¨burqa,¨ meaning ¨A garment or robe worn by some Muslim women to cover their bodies in public,¨ and ¨aba,¨ meaning father, (203). The cultural diction allows readers to experience a piece of Malala’s culture. She also utilizes imagery in the prologue in order to illustrate the details of the room that could be relatable to readers. Malala describes her room with specific textures or things in the room. Malala states, ¨…I can see my bedroom. The bed is unmade, my fluffy blanket in a heap… My school schedule is open on my desk to a page dated 9 October 2012,¨ (1). The imagery depicts Malala’s human like qualities that allow her to seem more realistic and relatable to even the American juvenile girl.
Critique
The autobiography, I am Malala, was very well written and executed its purpose in raising awareness about women’s rights and women’s education but there are some weaker points in this autobiography. The diction throughout is very elementary and is not challenging. If this autobiography had more sophisticated diction the purpose would have been executed cleaner but the childlike diction overtakes the purpose and theme of the book. The cultural diction adds another layer of depth to the autobiography which aided in not allowing the childlike diction in becoming overbearing. It also included a glossary at the back of the book that helps readers with the cultural diction and the definition of words that are not usually heard in American society. In the back of the book there is a timeline of events that helps young readers as well put the events into perspective how they fit into their lives.
In conclusion, I am Malala is a very well written autobiography that could use more sophisticated diction. The cultural diction and imagery portrays the autobiography as more realistic and relatable to an young audience. Malala utilizes juxtaposition to compare her beliefs with those of the Pakistan community for the purpose of informing other about what is happening in other countries around the world since most Americans take advantage of the rights that are given to them.
