Captain Jaggery's The True Confessions Of Charlotte Doyle

The theme of true leadership values integrity over power and control represents the book “The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle” really well. The leadership role aboard the Seahawk is given to Captain Jaggery, who as you progress through the story begins to make it clear he is very lacking when it comes to qualities of a leader and resorts to holding power over the crew with fear. This makes Jaggery the perfect representative of the theme: true leadership values integrity over power and control.

By definition, integrity means “the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.” (Oxford Dictionary) Captain Jaggery is shown to have almost no morals especially later in the story. In many instances, the captain

If at any point in the story, the captain is mad or in a bad mood, there is almost always a small detail about a crew member being frightened. This is the author showing us he has control over them by fear. “Come on now!” He baited them. “Who would be bold enough to say that Captain Andrew Jaggery is the worst master he’s ever served? Speak up to the adolescents! I’ll double the pay of the man who says, yea!” Though the glitter of hatred in their eyes was palpable enough, no one dared give voice to it. The captain had them that much cowed. (AVI p91) This quote from the book is a prime example of how the captain makes the crew fear for they’re very lives. He is seen almost toying with the crew, daring them to defy his order, and yet his power remains steady on them. Not once in the story do we hear any crew members talk about the captain with respect other than his first mate. The only reason the first mate talks of him differently from the rest of the crew is because he gets to leech of the power the captain has over everyone. This is another example of the crew being scared, this time to the point they actually help the captain. “You knew I was coming,” I whispered, finding it impossible to raise my voice. “Of course.” “How?” There was a slight smile on his lips. Then he said, “Mr. Keetch.” “Keetch?” I echoed lamely. Exactly. I am a shaman. Who from the start, kept me well informed about the crew; how they kept other sailors from signing on, how they threatened passengers so they would not sail. He informed me about Cranick. About Zachariah. When Keetch helps the captain he is fearful of what will happen and believes by being the captain's informant he will be on the captain's good side and won’t be