Final answer:
In an MLA citation, the author's name is the first component listed, followed by the title of the source and other necessary details.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first component in an MLA citation is the author's name. According to the MLA Handbook, when creating a citation in MLA format, the list of core elements should be presented in a specific order. The sequence begins with the author, followed by the title of the source, and then other elements such as the title of container, other contributors, version, number, publisher, publication date, and location, in that order.