Mulan goes to battle, and although she is
discovered, she saves the emperor and China.
One man is not excited, and when the captain
says, she’s a hero, he replies, she’s a woman,
she’ll never be worth anything. But then the
emperor arrives and demonstrates that he
doesn’t care that she is a woman, only that
she has saved them all. He bows to Mulan
in appreciation, and because of what he
represents, everyone present falls to their
knees and bows to Hua Mulan. He presents
her with his medallion and says, take this so
that your family will know what you have
done for me. Then he presents her with the
sword of the leader of the Huns and says,
take this so that the world will know what
you have done for China. At her home, Mulan
presents the medallion and sword to her
father and says, they are gifts with which
to honour our family. Her father responds
by saying, the greatest gift is having you for
a daughter. Thus, Mulan brings honour to
her family; not the way they hoped but in a
different way and on a grander scale.
1. Everyone and everything has a
place, and every great woman
seeks out her place. When you are
out of your place, you will struggle
in vain, and you will be at best,
average. But in your place, your
endeavours will make a significant
difference; you will stand out
and be the head. Mulan struggled
to impress the matchmaker
but never did, but when she
channelled that determination
into becoming a soldier, she was
distinguished; her colleagues
hailed her as the greatest of them
all, and the emperor said to her,
you have saved us all. Find your
place and grow there. You will
never be celebrated elsewhere.
2. Great women ask great questions.
Mulan asked questions such as,
why should Mulan be different?
What about a girl with a brain
who speaks up? A great question
is the product of a great mind and
productive thinking. And great
questions challenge beliefs and
foster change. Ask great questions.
Great woman do.
mould. They are not afraid to
challenge the status quo or forge
a path for themselves. They are
pacesetters, trailblazers, and
pathfinders. Mulan tried to fit into
the image of what society and
her family accepted, but when
it did not work, she abandoned
it and fearlessly carved a path
for herself. You may not act like
others or follow convention, but
that doesn’t make you useless. We
are all born for something, and
when we find it and embody it, we
are unstoppable and invincible.
4. Another person’s view of you does
not have to become your truth.
The matchmaker said to Mulan,
“you are a disgrace. You may look
like a bride, but you will never
bring your family honour!” But
the emperor said to her, “you have
saved us all.”
5. When you follow the path that
is meant for you, shame quickly
becomes honour. Mulan began as
a disgrace to her father, but she
ended up bringing him dignity and
pride as she followed the path that
3. Great women do not follow
was meant for her.
tradition blindly. They do not force
themselves to fit into society’s
6. Great women believe in
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DOZ Magazine | March 2020