"The Crucible"

Essay by mck04 January 2005

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"The Crucible" 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...