Malala Yousafzai: Nobel Peace Prize Lecture 2014

In her first public statement since the Taliban attack, Malala Yousafzai said she believes

everyone, especially women, should have the right to equal education. Her speech uses

repetition, allusions to historical figures, as well as juxtaposition of the Taliban's intention to

reinforce and emphasize the need for equality in education between United Nations member

states and young people.

First, Malala intentionally repeats her practical terms and phrases to organize her goals

and fight for equal sexual orientation education for women around the world. Yousafzai attempts

to level her audience on an equal footing by calling them "brothers and sisters." This reasonably

strengthens ties and allows people to take a stand and support her educational pursuits. She then

repeats the phrase "we call upon..." to reach out to more people and demonstrate that everyone

can contribute to the effort to regulate and adjust educational opportunities. She shows that she

wants more people to stand out than just those sitting in the audience.

Malala not only repeats words and phrases, but also mentions and alludes to historical

events and people to captivate her listeners and encourage them to expand their knowledge. She

opens her address with the words, "In the name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful." This

reference to God appeals to the listener's faith and gives them the confidence and fortitude to rise

and make a difference. With great passion and openness for the future and change, Ms. Yousafzai

said that despite the attack and the difficulties she faced, she "does not hate the Talib who shot

her." She has a new, peaceful point of view, which she learned from peacemakers like Martin

Luther King, Nelson Mandela, and Muhammad Ali Jinnah. She recognizes and recalls these

particular people, connects them to herself, and draws the audience's attention. Malala inspired

her audience by connecting influential speakers to themselves and their desire to make
meaningful changes in the world. Yousafzai contrasts the perception that the Taliban defeated

and tormented them to prevent them from claiming education, when in fact the Taliban had

educated and even motivated them. Instead of humbly referring to the Taliban, Yousafzai proudly

claimed, "They thought the bullets would silence us. But they failed. And then, out of that silence

came thousands of voices,” highlighting fortitude and bravery. Rather than giving in to the

Taliban's demands and setting a precedent for future assaults, Yousafzai stated that she wanted to

raise awareness of the Taliban's attacks as well as the plight of women and children worldwide

who have not received primary education. She continues this method by emphasizing that

challenges make individuals more substantial: "We realize the importance of light when we see

darkness. When we are silenced, we understand how important our voice is," adding that this

tragic incident does not have to end in tragedy. By rationally augmenting her words with

contrast, she reinforces her belief that individuals can be strengthened in the face of adversity, as

she has and will continue to do. In the face of adversity, that has been and will continue to be the

case. She turned her cynical act into a constructive initiative by gaining more support and

proving that nothing stands in the way of equal education for all.

By propagating her ideas, she provides the potential for significant progress toward

equitable education. Despite her difficulties, Yousafzai continues to make the most of her life to

improve the quality of others and increase chances for all.