I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2012

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Prologue-Chapter 3

Chapters 4-8

Chapters 9-11

Chapters 12-15

Chapters 16-20

Chapters 21-Epilogue

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

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Discussion Questions

Character AnalysisKey Figures

Malala

Readers watch Malala grow throughout her narrative. From the beginning, readers understand Malala is different. She points out that her father put her name on a family tree normally reserved for males. She also notes her father calls her Jani Mun, or soulmate. Later, Malala’s cousins call her unconventionality “modern.” In many ways, Malala is the modern girl of Swat, though she realizes later she isn’t modern at all. Regardless, it is both what makes her different and the support of her family that makes Malala grow and evolve.

Many of Malala’s early stories are about her father and his activities. However, as time passes, the narrative shifts. The shift in narrative matches the end when Malala notes her father becomes known because of her, and not the other way around. Through her parents’ support, Malala succeeds in becoming her own, modern girl—one who can advocate for others, one who appears “dangerous” enough to be shot.

Ziauddin, Malala’s father

Malala’s father is a pillar of resilience for Malala. He, like Malala, pursued an education. Even without his parents’ support, Ziauddin carves out a place for himself in college—learning to debate and speak. As a child, a stutter plagues him, especially around his father, who sees it as a flaw. However, Ziauddin does not let his stutter define him. He learns to speak publically, much to the delight of others. His lifelong passion for learning translates in a battle for everyone’s right to education. He builds several schools until he finally finds success.

In Ziauddin are the greatest of Malala’s qualities. It is apparent he passes them on to her throughout the narrative. From him, she learns the importance of education, perseverance, and the importance of speaking out. Even in his darkest of hours, under threat, Ziauddin never quits fighting. He speaks out against the Taliban and he campaigns for local issues. He teaches Malala that persistence makes a difference.

Fazlullah

Fazlullah becomes Malala’s motivator. He is the face of the Taliban in Swat. Although, at first, she sees him as a possible pillar of hope, she quickly sees his true intentions. When he orders girls quit going to school, she is devastated. She says, “The Taliban could take our pens and books, but they couldn’t stop our minds from thinking” (146). He falsely claims his actions are in the name of the Quran and spouts hateful rhetoric. Malala, unlike many others, sees through it. By opposing his words and actions, Malala finds the courage to press forward.

Toor Pekai, Malala’s mother

Malala’s mother offers something different from her father. What Malala’s mother gives her is spirituality and trust in God. On the one side, her father: rational, educated, and persistent. On the other side, her mother: spiritual, religious, and consistent. Her mother was not educated, which Toor Pekai didn’t see as an issue until she met Malala’s father. She wished she had gone to school. She believes in God and the words of the Quran. Through both, she channels spirituality that is beneficial to a young girl in a violent country. When all seems lost, Toor Pekai prays. At the end of the narrative, Malala notes her mother prayed over her for hours, telling Malala’s father that Malala would live.

The Taliban

Although the Taliban is an abstract entity consisting of hundreds, even thousands, of people in Malala’s valley, the Taliban is a character in Malala’s life and shapes her story. Without the Taliban, the horror (outside of the couple natural disasters) would not have disturbed Malala’s valley. Without the Taliban, the military would not have set up shop for several months flushing the Taliban, and Swat’s residents, out. The Taliban creates fear, and through this fear, Malala’s courage is born. She speaks out through the media. Eventually, she is shot by a Taliban agent. Her life was, effectively, shaped by the Taliban.