CHARACTER TRAITS OF MALALA
Malala, is the central character of the book. She is intelligent and more ambitious, as compared to other girls in the society that she lives in. She says, “It’s hard for girls in our society to be anything other than teachers or doctors if they can work at all. I was different-I never hid my desire when I changed from wanting to be a doctor to wanting to be an inventor or a politician.” (I am Malala; Prologue, page 7).
Malala has a rebellious nature and choses to rebel against the traditions that suppress women. “I knew as we got older the girls would be expected to stay inside. We’d be expected to cook and serve our brothers and fathers…This was the tradition. I had decided very early I would not be like that.” (I am Malala; Chapter 1, page 26). “ I am proud to be a Pashtun, but…our code of conduct has a lot to answer for, particularly where the treatment of women is concerned.” (I am Malala; Chapter 4, page 66).
Malala is very wise for her age and is quick to learn from her mistakes. “I think everyone makes a mistake at least once in their life. The important thing is what you learn from it.” (I am Malala; Chapter 5, page 72). She idolizes Mahatma Gandhi and Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and believes in the non-violent philosophy advocated by them.
Malala is compassionate and cares for the less fortunate. She begs her father to give “free places” at the school to the scavenger children of the rubbish mountain. Many families did not want to pay school fees for their girls. To enable these girls to study, Malala “persuaded him (her father) to give free places to a number of girls.” (I am Malala; Chapter 6, page 81).
Malala has a keen sense of justice and wants to change the world for the better. She appeals to God in these words: “ God, give me strength and courage and make me perfect because I want to make this world perfect.” (I am Malala; Chapter 6, page 89). She sees the injustices committed by militants and is infuriated by their misinterpretation of religion. “Mullahs often misinterpret the Quran…as few people understand the original Arabic. Fazlullah exploited this ignorance.” (I am Malala; Chapter 9, page 113). She resents the Taliban and their attempt to enforce their code of conduct on the people. “We felt like the Taliban saw us as little dolls to control, telling us what to do and how to dress.” (I am Malala; Chapter 10, page 124).
Malala showed immense courage by speaking out against the Taliban in support of girls’ right to education. “In my heart was the belief that God would protect me. If I am speaking for my rights, for the rights of girls, I am not doing anything wrong.”(I am Malala; Chapter 11, page 141). She challenged the Taliban by saying, “How dare the Taliban take away my basic right to education?” (I am Malala; Chapter 11, page 142).
Malala has many leadership qualities and she uses them to change the views of people around her. She realizes the power of words when she starts giving interviews and writing diary entries for the BBC website about life under the Taliban. “I began to see that the pen and the words that come from it can be much more powerful than machine guns, tanks or helicopters…we were learning how powerful we are when we speak.” (I am Malala; Chapter 13, page 157). She recognizes her abilities and decides to become a politician. “I had thought about becoming a politician and now I knew that was the right choice. Our country had so many crisis and no real leaders to tackle them.” (I am Malala; Chapter 16, page 204).
Malala receives many awards for supporting the girls’ right to education but she remained humble. “I knew that any of the girls in my class could have achieved what I had achieved if they had had their parents’ support.” (I am Malala; Chapter 17, page 216). She viewed the awards and recognition as if “they were little jewels without much meaning.” (I am Malala; Chapter 16, page 217).
Malala showed immense willpower as she fought to survive the horrific injury inflicted by the gunshot wound. She bears her pain with fortitude and is determined to continue her campaign for girls’ right to education. “It feels like this life is a second life. People prayed to God to spare me, and I was spared for a reason-to use my life for helping people.” (I am Malala; Chapter 24, page 301)
Malala has a rebellious nature and choses to rebel against the traditions that suppress women. “I knew as we got older the girls would be expected to stay inside. We’d be expected to cook and serve our brothers and fathers…This was the tradition. I had decided very early I would not be like that.” (I am Malala; Chapter 1, page 26). “ I am proud to be a Pashtun, but…our code of conduct has a lot to answer for, particularly where the treatment of women is concerned.” (I am Malala; Chapter 4, page 66).
Malala is very wise for her age and is quick to learn from her mistakes. “I think everyone makes a mistake at least once in their life. The important thing is what you learn from it.” (I am Malala; Chapter 5, page 72). She idolizes Mahatma Gandhi and Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and believes in the non-violent philosophy advocated by them.
Malala is compassionate and cares for the less fortunate. She begs her father to give “free places” at the school to the scavenger children of the rubbish mountain. Many families did not want to pay school fees for their girls. To enable these girls to study, Malala “persuaded him (her father) to give free places to a number of girls.” (I am Malala; Chapter 6, page 81).
Malala has a keen sense of justice and wants to change the world for the better. She appeals to God in these words: “ God, give me strength and courage and make me perfect because I want to make this world perfect.” (I am Malala; Chapter 6, page 89). She sees the injustices committed by militants and is infuriated by their misinterpretation of religion. “Mullahs often misinterpret the Quran…as few people understand the original Arabic. Fazlullah exploited this ignorance.” (I am Malala; Chapter 9, page 113). She resents the Taliban and their attempt to enforce their code of conduct on the people. “We felt like the Taliban saw us as little dolls to control, telling us what to do and how to dress.” (I am Malala; Chapter 10, page 124).
Malala showed immense courage by speaking out against the Taliban in support of girls’ right to education. “In my heart was the belief that God would protect me. If I am speaking for my rights, for the rights of girls, I am not doing anything wrong.”(I am Malala; Chapter 11, page 141). She challenged the Taliban by saying, “How dare the Taliban take away my basic right to education?” (I am Malala; Chapter 11, page 142).
Malala has many leadership qualities and she uses them to change the views of people around her. She realizes the power of words when she starts giving interviews and writing diary entries for the BBC website about life under the Taliban. “I began to see that the pen and the words that come from it can be much more powerful than machine guns, tanks or helicopters…we were learning how powerful we are when we speak.” (I am Malala; Chapter 13, page 157). She recognizes her abilities and decides to become a politician. “I had thought about becoming a politician and now I knew that was the right choice. Our country had so many crisis and no real leaders to tackle them.” (I am Malala; Chapter 16, page 204).
Malala receives many awards for supporting the girls’ right to education but she remained humble. “I knew that any of the girls in my class could have achieved what I had achieved if they had had their parents’ support.” (I am Malala; Chapter 17, page 216). She viewed the awards and recognition as if “they were little jewels without much meaning.” (I am Malala; Chapter 16, page 217).
Malala showed immense willpower as she fought to survive the horrific injury inflicted by the gunshot wound. She bears her pain with fortitude and is determined to continue her campaign for girls’ right to education. “It feels like this life is a second life. People prayed to God to spare me, and I was spared for a reason-to use my life for helping people.” (I am Malala; Chapter 24, page 301)