Great Leaders in history

Great leadership, this is a trait most people do not have. Among the many leaders of the world present and past, only a few could be deemed great. That is why the literary world becomes a place to cultivate what an ideal leader is. From Robert the blind man in “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver, to “The Things They Carried” character, Lieutenant Jimmy Cross, these leaders harken back to real leaders of the past like Lincoln and Kennedy. It is with these shining examples in mind that an idea of what a great leader is, takes shape and even provides inspiration for new leaders that break the mold of what is typically expected like Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones. These new leaders will perhaps inspire the greats of tomorrow.
Many consider John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln amazing leaders because of their ability to stand up for what is right and their desire to maintain their integrity. What is integrity?
There are varying definitions of integrity. My own personal definition of integrity revolves around the notion that our identities, our perspective molds our morality. When someone had a clear idea of who she or he is, their integrity shapes itself around that identity.
As people age and mature, their identity evolves, based on the various learning experiences observed within a person’s perspective. These experiences, these events, provide a crucial piece to the formation of identity for every person. (Cohen) Whether the experiences or small or momentous, they all provide a foundation from which the self, changes. The journey to the self is crucial for integrity to properly develop.
Lincoln and Kennedy had integrity, a set of morals and principles they believed in, that they developed as they became adults. Their decisions like the Civil War and the support of the Civil Rights Movement demonstrated how they not only believed in what they deemed ‘right’, but they acted on these beliefs to ensure fairness and civility for all. January 20, 1961, JFK delivered his inaugural address and demonstrated to the world, his sincerity and his desire to change things for the better. (James, et al.) He saw how the world was and still is, the poverty, the need to remember the first revolution, where people fought for freedom from oppression, and used that to show what he believed needed to come to fruition for a better world. The same can be said of Lincoln and his inaugural address.
Lincoln delivered his second inaugural address on March 4, 1865, a few months before the end of the American Civil War. During his speech, he recalled how it felt years prior and his attempts at preserving the union. (James, et al.) Lincoln faced great danger and adversity in helping eliminate slavery in the United States. However, through this tough and arduous time, he proved just how important it was to stay the course and in doing so, alter history. Lincoln because the face of great leadership and this speech was the final tip of the cap to show what he accomplished and what the nation endured.
Great leadership means great responsibility. Robert the blind man in “Cathedral” is one that understands his responsibilities to his fellow man. Being a compassionate and insightful character, he listens to others including the narrator’s wife and provides the kind of help that makes a difference in someone’s life. (James, et al.) For example, he helps the narrator draw the cathedral and provide a grounding that the narrator needed. Good leaders help and are in touch with their followers. While Robert is not a traditional leader, his ability to care and provide solace, is what makes him such a great character and instrumental in the narrator’s life.
That caring and that sense of duty carries over to characters like Lieutenant Jimmy Cross in “The Things They Carried”. Although he can be interpreted as an immature leader, with no desire to take on the role he was given, he feels guilty and responsible for the loss of his men in battle. (James, et al.) He, like Christ, took full on the brunt of the confusion and guilt felt in war. By taking on the suffering of the entire platoon, and burning Martha’s letters, he shows what a capable leader he truly is through personal sacrifice.
Personal sacrifice is a common theme among great leaders, even modern fictitious ones like Daenerys Targaryen. Daenerys comes from old nobility. She is a character that faced great odds to regain her throne and face the evil of the world. Nicknamed ‘Breaker of Chains’, her leadership came from a source of compassion for those under servitude of the old rule. She underwent great trials to gain the power to not only fulfill her goals, but protect her people. In doing so, she evolved past a scared, little girl, to a strong and bold leader. (Della Quercia)
All these leaders discussed show why it is rare to have a great leader. Leadership involves a certain amount of self-sacrifice and compassion few possess. That inner resilience and desire to adhere to one’s own moral compass, lends to the creation of leaders that not only endure, but change history. Real world leaders like Lincoln and JFK demonstrated what can be done if one maintains integrity and promotes equality.
Fictional leaders like Robert and Cross show how compassion connects the leader to the world and makes for an ideology set in duty and sacrifice. Leaders are not simply there to give commands and usher in change. Rather they cultivate change through words and actions. They create community with their compassion. These are hallmarks of a great leader.
Such great leaders real or otherwise have inspired writers to make new leaders, the ones that fit outside of the box. Characters like Daenerys Targaryen confirm what great leaders are, but also bring something new to the table. Meaning, anyone can become a great leader. What it takes is courage, compassion, a sense of duty, and the strength and fortitude to make a positive change in the world.
Works Cited
Cohen, William A. "Absolute integrity is the basis of heroic leadership." Leader to Leader, vol. 2011, no. 59, 2010, pp. 46-51.
Della Quercia, Jacopo. "A Machiavellian Discourse on Game of Thrones." Game of Thrones versus History, 3 Mar. 2017, pp. 33-45.
James, Missy, et al. Reading Literature and Writing Argument. Pearson, 2017.