Who is Malala?
Transformation of a Heroine for our Time Overcoming obstacles in one’s life is never an easy task, yet they must be defied to continue in life. A person who chooses to take on these arduous tasks in their own life is brave. Yet, many choose to face them on behalf of their community, for the benefit of many. Deserving to be applauded and honored as the heroes they are. They are a special breed of humanity; one such person is Malala Yousafzai. In The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Joseph Campbell states, “the hero is the man of self-achieved submission.” We witness this submission in Malala, who was aware of her potential, and the need to make a stand against an injustice. In her biography, I am Malala, she recounts her life and …show more content…
Campbell illustrates this stage as “a transit into a sphere of rebirth – where the hero—is swallowed into the unknown, and would appear to have died.” Specifically this stage is a symbolic death where “the hero has died as a modern man; but as eternal man—perfected, unspecific, universal man—[she] has been reborn.” The transformation takes place so the hero can begin to inspire; becoming a role model whose courage at facing death allows them to live life renewed. Malala’s journey led her to understand what the possibility of her death meant and she was not afraid. Her thoughts were, “that nobody can stop death; it doesn’t matter if it comes from a talib or cancer. So I should do whatever I want to do.” For that reason, when she received a threat at her home, her father became anxious and wanted to end the campaigning. Malala did not agree, saying, “You were the one who said if we believe in something greater than our lives, then our voices will only multiply if we are dead.” Malala was devoted and would see the campaign through to the end. In fact, when she contemplated being shot her thoughts were not fear instead she wanted time to explain her purpose to the attacker by saying, “Ok, shoot me, but first listen to me. What you are doing is wrong. I’m not against you personally, I just want every girl to go to school.” Malala would suffer a great ordeal after being shot, and the recovery would be difficult, but her survival meant she would carry on with renewed vigor and take her stand victoriously having conquered death. With this second life she can do great things for she does not have to be afraid of death
Transformation of a Heroine for our Time Overcoming obstacles in one’s life is never an easy task, yet they must be defied to continue in life. A person who chooses to take on these arduous tasks in their own life is brave. Yet, many choose to face them on behalf of their community, for the benefit of many. Deserving to be applauded and honored as the heroes they are. They are a special breed of humanity; one such person is Malala Yousafzai. In The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Joseph Campbell states, “the hero is the man of self-achieved submission.” We witness this submission in Malala, who was aware of her potential, and the need to make a stand against an injustice. In her biography, I am Malala, she recounts her life and …show more content…
Campbell illustrates this stage as “a transit into a sphere of rebirth – where the hero—is swallowed into the unknown, and would appear to have died.” Specifically this stage is a symbolic death where “the hero has died as a modern man; but as eternal man—perfected, unspecific, universal man—[she] has been reborn.” The transformation takes place so the hero can begin to inspire; becoming a role model whose courage at facing death allows them to live life renewed. Malala’s journey led her to understand what the possibility of her death meant and she was not afraid. Her thoughts were, “that nobody can stop death; it doesn’t matter if it comes from a talib or cancer. So I should do whatever I want to do.” For that reason, when she received a threat at her home, her father became anxious and wanted to end the campaigning. Malala did not agree, saying, “You were the one who said if we believe in something greater than our lives, then our voices will only multiply if we are dead.” Malala was devoted and would see the campaign through to the end. In fact, when she contemplated being shot her thoughts were not fear instead she wanted time to explain her purpose to the attacker by saying, “Ok, shoot me, but first listen to me. What you are doing is wrong. I’m not against you personally, I just want every girl to go to school.” Malala would suffer a great ordeal after being shot, and the recovery would be difficult, but her survival meant she would carry on with renewed vigor and take her stand victoriously having conquered death. With this second life she can do great things for she does not have to be afraid of death