The Crucible and Integrity
Lea DiCocco
English 11- Aurigemma
The Crucible Critical Lens Essay
November 1, 2010
To have integrity means adhering to a strict moral or code, being undivided, completeness, or being honest with yourself. Having integrity is doing what you say you are going to do and believing in what you say. If you go ahead and do something else, chances are that you lack integrity. For example, you value honesty in a person, but when they tell you their honest opinion about something, you become upset. This shows a lack of integrity. Integrity is important to a person because it leads to high self esteem and self respect. If you cannot respect yourself, and you cannot trust yourself, then how can you expect others to trust and respect you?
"Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind." - Ralph Waldo Emerson. To me, this means that the only thing that keeps someone from reaching their potential is the strength of their mind. Emerson believed the weak minded were destined to fail unless they could train their mind. In life, the only person that you truly need to make happy is yourself. If you lose sight of who you really are, then you have nothing to live for. No one will be able to respect you if you cannot respect yourself. I agree with this quote for a few reasons. I am able to have a high level of respect for others who show their honesty and that belive in what they say. I am also a very honest person with high self respect. This makes me feel like a stronger person overall.
There are examples of integrity and a lack of integrity in the play, The Crucible. John Proctor, a strong but unfaithful farmer, shows personal integrity. When told he will be hung for an accusation of adultery, he does not lie to save his own life. Instead, he stays true to his beliefs and tells the truth, which gets him killed. This shows how being true to one's self can be so important to someone. Abigail Williams, a weak, manipulative, liar, does not portray integrity.
English 11- Aurigemma
The Crucible Critical Lens Essay
November 1, 2010
To have integrity means adhering to a strict moral or code, being undivided, completeness, or being honest with yourself. Having integrity is doing what you say you are going to do and believing in what you say. If you go ahead and do something else, chances are that you lack integrity. For example, you value honesty in a person, but when they tell you their honest opinion about something, you become upset. This shows a lack of integrity. Integrity is important to a person because it leads to high self esteem and self respect. If you cannot respect yourself, and you cannot trust yourself, then how can you expect others to trust and respect you?
"Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind." - Ralph Waldo Emerson. To me, this means that the only thing that keeps someone from reaching their potential is the strength of their mind. Emerson believed the weak minded were destined to fail unless they could train their mind. In life, the only person that you truly need to make happy is yourself. If you lose sight of who you really are, then you have nothing to live for. No one will be able to respect you if you cannot respect yourself. I agree with this quote for a few reasons. I am able to have a high level of respect for others who show their honesty and that belive in what they say. I am also a very honest person with high self respect. This makes me feel like a stronger person overall.
There are examples of integrity and a lack of integrity in the play, The Crucible. John Proctor, a strong but unfaithful farmer, shows personal integrity. When told he will be hung for an accusation of adultery, he does not lie to save his own life. Instead, he stays true to his beliefs and tells the truth, which gets him killed. This shows how being true to one's self can be so important to someone. Abigail Williams, a weak, manipulative, liar, does not portray integrity.