<p>If someone who be so kind as to grade my essay and give pointers, I’d be happy to do the same for yours. Thanks! </p>
<p>Identity is not something you are born with. Jurgis Rudkus can be seen as an example of a man whose sense of identity developed through his years of hardship and suffering. Jack Welch is another example of how identity develops through the years. Identity is not bestowed upon a person immediately after they emerge from the womb. Rather it is developed through experiences over the years. </p>
<p>In the novel The Jungle by Upton Sinclair, Jurgis Rudkus, an immigrant from Lithuania, discovers the facade of the American dream, yet utilizes his suffering to inspire others to work towards change. Immediately upon arrival to Chicago, Jurgis discovers that the American dream is simply an illusion. His family is conned by several so-called friends and forced to work in inhumane, laborious conditions. They suffer through many hardships and often times go hungry. Once his beloved wife, Ona dies during childbirth, Jurgis begins to turn to alcohol to alleviate the pain. His life enters a downward spiral until he stumbles across a political rally in which the speaker proclaims that they themselves, the workmen, have the power to change Chicago. Jurgis joins and becomes an adamant member, even giving passionate speeches at other rallies. He implements his past experiences to encourage workmen to join his cause and fight for an equal workplace. Through his suffering and hardship, Jurgis creates his identity as a passionate political leader. </p>
<p>Similarly, Jack Welch, the former CEO of General Electric (GE) also implemented his experiences to become GE’s youngest chairman and CEO. Welch began working at GE as a junior chemical engineer and was so disappointed with the company’s organization that he planned on quitting. Despite his plans, he was persuaded to stay and soon became the company’s youngest chairman and CEO. During his time at GE from 1981-2001, the company’s value rose 4000%. Welch’s success as an entrepreneur was due to his brutal candor and earned him the nickname “Neutron Jack” like the neutron bomb. Welch created his identity as a successful businessman throughout the years. </p>
<p>Identity is seen as something imparted upon a person since birth. Yet as Jurgis Rudkus and Jack Welch prove, a person creates his or her identity over time and through past experiences. The examples in literature and business prove that identity is not something bestowed, but rather something cultivated as time goes by through past struggles.</p>