Читать книгу What She Said - Monica Lunin - Страница 14

Nora Ephron springboards from her series of amusing anecdotes and interesting insights to arrive at her central point. This is a serious message, and though slightly preachy, it works well in this context. The contrast with the humorous, endearing part of the speech is strong. When she changes gears in this way, her language and pace also shift. This change of pace makes the audience lean forward and listen up. Note the subtle uplift in speed and intensity when she delivers this part:

Understand: every attack on Hillary Clinton for not knowing her place is an attack on you. Underneath almost all those attacks are the words: get back, get back to where you once belonged.

She goes on, riding the momentum she created, to name a series of insidious and damaging ‘attacks' in the contemporary social and political landscape that may (or may not) have escaped the attention of these ambitious young women.

Heading towards the conclusion of the speech, Nora Ephron manages to lift the mood. Changing tone again, she shifts to her main piece of advice, one that is empowering and appropriate for the audience and the occasion: ‘Above all, be the heroine of your own life'.