Essay/Term paper: Defintion of integrity

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Definition Essays

English 4 Kim Nash
Definition Essay January 5, 1997

The definition of integrity according to Webster's Dictionary is, "a rigid adherence to a code of behavior." There are though many ways to look at a persons integrity. A person with integrity possesses many qualities. Three of these qualities are honesty, the ability to follow a moral code, and loyalty to yourself and your beliefs.
In The Crucible, a prime example of a person with integrity is Elizabeth Proctor. Elizabeth shows her personal purity when she refuses to persuade her husband to confess to crimes of witchcraft. She refuses because she believes that 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 to confess to crimes of witchcraft. Even though confessing would save his life, he won't confess to a crime he didn't commit. He knows that being dishonest isn't being 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 his beliefs. Danforth, is the Deputy Governor who convicts the citizens of being witches. When Danforth is asked to pardon the accused, he refuses saying that he can't because twelve have already hung for the same crime, and he refuses to let asnyone off. Even though he knows what is right and that they are innocent he won't because it would ruin the integrity of the court, and his own recitude.
Indictment: The McMartin Trial, also has many characters who posses a great sense of integrity. For instance the McMartin family sticks together even when they are being accused of the horrible crime of child molestation. They also will not confess to the crime because they know they are innocent and that it wouldn't be right to say that they were guilty. The McMartin's also never give up hope in the rest of the world. They never lose faith in their belief in that truth will always prevail. They keep their uprightness, through everything never giving up and always keeping the faith that if they are loyal to their beliefs in God everything will work out in the end.
Fox Moulder, the main character from the TV show the X-Files has a sense of integrity, in that he always does what he believes is right, and what he feels is the truth. No matter what happens in his life he always believes that his sister was abducted by aliens, even though the popular belief is that aliens don't exist. He also doesn't follow the norm in his thinking, he follows the path that he thinks is right. He also never conforms to the popular opinion, he always look for the truth.
Integrity shows up in many places and has many faces. The faces of truth, moral code, and loyalty are all parts of integrity and show up everyday in many ways. To have a true sense of integrity one must posses all three. You have to be honest to yourself and to others, follow your personal beliefs and stick 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 important to you.