Word Essay MLA Format: Choose One Of The Following Readings

1000 Word Essay MLA Format Choose One Of The Following Readings

Choose one of the following readings and answer the essay question analyzing the reading using the essay question. Address qualities of leadership, what is the relationship between integrity and leadership. Include your own definition of integrity and whether those leadership roles are assumed to have or demonstrate integrity:

• The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
• Cathedral by Raymond Carver
• Democracy by E.M. Foster
• He Becomes Deeply and Famously Drunk by Langston Hughes
• Lies by Udall
• Crawford by unknown author

Paper For Above instruction

1000 Word Essay MLA Format Choose One Of The Following Readings

Leadership is a complex and multifaceted concept that has been explored through various literary works. In analyzing the qualities of leadership, it is essential to understand the intrinsic relationship between integrity and leadership. This essay examines selected readings—Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried, Raymond Carver's Cathedral, E.M. Foster's Democracy, Langston Hughes' He Becomes Deeply and Famously Drunk, Udall's Lies, and Crawford—that portray leadership in different contexts. The analysis focuses on how these works depict qualities associated with leadership and how integrity is integral to effective leadership, including my personal understanding of integrity and whether these roles demonstrate or assume it.

Understanding Leadership and Its Qualities

Leadership, as depicted in literature, often encapsulates qualities such as honesty, resilience, compassion, and moral uprightness. The capacity to influence others positively while maintaining ethical standards is central. For instance, in The Things They Carried, Tim O'Brien presents soldiers amidst war, highlighting leadership qualities such as courage, sacrifice, and moral decision-making under extreme circumstances. These characters often face dilemmas that test their integrity and leadership skills.

Similarly, in Cathedral, Raymond Carver illustrates the transformative power of genuine empathy and understanding—traits vital to authentic leadership. The narrator's initial judgment of the blind man evolves into an act of trust and openness, displaying a different aspect of leadership grounded in vulnerability and genuine connection. The characters’ behaviors demonstrate that true leadership extends beyond authority; it encompasses moral courage and authentic care for others.

The Relationship Between Integrity and Leadership

Integrity is the foundation of trustworthy leadership. It involves adhering to moral principles and consistently acting in an honest and ethical manner. My personal definition of integrity involves a steadfast commitment to truthfulness, accountability, and moral consistency, even when faced with difficult choices or adverse circumstances. Leaders demonstrating integrity inspire trust and loyalty among followers, creating a cohesive and resilient environment.

In The Things They Carried, soldiers who demonstrate integrity—such as Kiowa and Jimmy Cross—are shown to strengthen their leadership through honesty and moral clarity. Cross’s leadership falters when he neglects his moral duty to care for his men, illustrating that a lack of integrity undermines authority. Conversely, soldiers who uphold their moral values maintain respect and authority, even under strain, emphasizing that integrity is essential for genuine leadership.

Leadership Roles and Demonstration of Integrity

Leadership roles are often assumed to carry with them an expectation or assumption of integrity. However, literature reveals that simply occupying a leadership position does not guarantee ethical conduct. In Democracy by E.M. Foster, the protagonist navigates political and social challenges, embodying leadership qualities such as resilience and moral conviction. Yet, the narrative suggests that effective leadership requires active demonstration of integrity; assumptions alone are insufficient without consistent ethical behavior.

Langston Hughes’ He Becomes Deeply and Famously Drunk explores how leadership can sometimes be compromised by personal flaws and moral lapses. Hughes depicts a leader whose capacity for introspection and acknowledgment of weakness ultimately enhances his authenticity, aligning with the idea that true leadership must be rooted in self-awareness and integrity rather than pretension or authority alone.

Conclusion

Literature vividly illustrates that leadership involves qualities such as resilience, empathy, moral courage, and honesty. The fundamental relationship between integrity and leadership is one of mutual reinforcement: integrity forms the moral backbone that sustains leadership, and leadership functions effectively only when rooted in genuine integrity. My personal understanding of integrity emphasizes unwavering honesty and moral consistency. Leadership roles inherently carry an expectation—or should carry the demonstration—of integrity. Effective leadership is thus demonstrated through consistent ethical behavior—not merely assumed by title or position. The selected literary works underscore that true leadership demands moral commitment, authenticity, and the courage to uphold one's principles even in the face of adversity.

References

• Carver, Raymond. Cathedral. Vintage Contemporaries, 1983.
• Foster, E. M. Democracy. Oxford University Press, 1930.
• Hughes, Langston. He Becomes Deeply and Famously Drunk. The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes, 1994.
• O'Brien, Tim. The Things They Carried. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1990.
• Uhlmann, Lisa. Lies. Reading Literature and Communicating Knowledge, 2013.
• Author Unknown. Crawford. (Additional source or fictional work, citation format depending on source details).