Definition Of Integrity EssayThe definition of integrity according to Webster’s Dictionary is, ;arigid adherence to a code of behavior. ; There are though many ways to look at apersons integrity. A person with integrity possesses many qualities. Three ofthese qualities are honesty, the ability to follow a moral code, and loyalty toyourself and your beliefs.
In The Crucible, a prime example of a person with integrity is ElizabethProctor. Elizabeth shows her personal purity when she refuses to persuade herhusband to confess to crimes of witchcraft. She refuses because she believesthat he is good now in God’s light. God, to her, will show her the right way,and she believes that by following God’s moral code she will be right and just. John Proctor, Elizabeth’s husband, also shows his integrity when he refuses toconfess to crimes of witchcraft.
Even though confessing would save his life, hewon’t confess to a crime he didn’t commit. He knows that being dishonest isn’tbeing loyal to his beliefs. In The Crucible, an example of not possessing integrity is also shown. Danforth, is the prime example of having no loyalty towards himselfor hisbeliefs.
Danforth, is the Deputy Governor who convicts the citizens of beingwitches. When Danforth is asked to pardon the accused, he refuses saying thathe can’t because twelve have already hung for the same crime, and he refusesto let asnyone off. Even though he knows what is right and that they areinnocent he won’t because it would ruin the integrity of the court, and his ownrecitude. Indictment: The McMartin Trial, also has many characters who posses agreat sense of integrity. For instance the McMartin family sticks together evenwhen they are being accused of the horrible crime of child molestation.
Theyalso will not confess to the crime because they know they are innocent and thatit wouldn’t be right to say that they were guilty. The McMartin’s also nevergive up hope in the rest of the world. They never lose faith in their belief inthat truth will always prevail. They keep their uprightness, through everythingnever giving up and always keeping the faith that if they are loyal to theirbeliefs in God everything will work out in the end. Fox Moulder, the main character from the TV show the X-Files has a senseof integrity, in that he always does what he believes is right, and what hefeels is the truth.
No matter what happens in his life he always believes thathis sister was abducted by aliens, even though the popular belief is that aliensdon’t exist. He also doesn’t follow the norm in his thinking, he follows thepath that he thinks is right. He also never conforms to the popular opinion, healways look for the truth. Integrity shows up in many places and has many faces. The faces oftruth, moral code, and loyalty are all parts of integrity and show up everydayin many ways. To have a true sense of integrity one must posses all three.
Youhave to be honest to yourself and to others, follow your personal beliefs andstick to what you think is right, and you have to be loyal to yourself. Integrity is to be truly honest, and fair, and to uphold the beliefs importantto you. .
