Over time people have constructed the universally accepted idea that integrity is strictly being honest and being a person who can do no wrong. Integrity has become a moral trait, however, it is so much more than that. The powerful tale To Kill a Mockingbird by acclaimed author Harper Lee supports the fact that there is a wider definition of integrity than honesty and morality. From characters like the righteous Atticus Finch to the fierce Mrs. Dubose to the innocent Boo Radley the real definition of integrity is shown throughout the novel. Integrity is not strictly about being honest or ethical but it is about being able to pull everything together, to make it all happen no matter how challenging and about being consistent in values and principles. …show more content…
Integrity means to adhere to a personal moral code but that is not a guarantee with honesty. For example, if a person breaks something they were not supposed to and that person is not asked about what they did and they keep it silent that does not mean said person is lying. However, a person who personally believes in owning up to their actions and adheres to that belief tells someone that they broke an item by mistake then they are showing integrity. Basically, honesty is giving your word but integrity is keeping it. You can be honest about believing in something but if you adhere to that moral belief then you are showing integrity. American professor Stephen L. Carter wrote in his essay “The Insufficiency of Honesty” that “The first point to understand about the difference between honesty and integrity is that a person may be entirely honest without ever engaging in the hard work of discernment that integrity requires: she may tell us quite truthfully what she believes without ever taking the time to figure out whether what she believes is good and right and true.” (Carter) This shows that a person can tell the truth about what they believe but if do not follow it consistently, it means that they are not showing integrity. American writer Isaac Asimov said in his book How to Enjoy Writing: A Book of Aid and Comfort when he said “Integrity, is, to me, a somewhat stronger word than “honesty.” “Honesty” often implies truth-telling and little more, but “integrity” implies wholeness, soundness, a complex philosophy of life.” (Asimov) This further explains the difference between integrity and honesty. Integrity and honesty are not the same but are both very important to have based on personal
To Kill a Mockingbird novel is a warm and humorous piece of writing though it deals with critical issues such as racial inequality and rape. The novel was published in 1960 by Harper Lee and it gained immediate popularity and success becoming a modern literature in American. The plot of the novel and characters are based on Harper’s perception of her neighbors and her immediate family. Also, it is based on her observation of events that took place near her home area in 1936 at the age of ten years. To Kill a Mockingbird symbolizes killing harmless and innocent people. Tom Robinson is an example of an innocent man falsely accused of raping a White girl known as Mayella Ewell (Lee 169). Another example is Boo who is misunderstood by the society
Integrity can be described to who a person is when no one is watching. A person with integrity does the right thing even when they are alone and they know no one else is around. An example in the Marine Corps would be standing a post by yourself. If you are all alone on a post and no one else is scheduled to come out for hours, does the person continue to walk their post or do they
Integrity is the quality of having honesty and strong values. In the story “from Sir Gawain the Green Knight” Sir Gawain had to face many challenges and still had integrity. Although he botched some of his tests, he also exceeded some of the trials. His integrity helped him throughout all the challenges he faced. Due to the all the tests that were given he had to face them all. They were set to an ingenious mark on the King. The king’s test was to prove and see if he was conscientious, robust, and committed.
Integrity is the basing of one's actions on an internally consistent framework of principles. Meaning, one who has integrity bases their actions on a moral code of honor, character, strength, and courage. These principles guide a character’s motive and cause, putting public image aside to lead a life chivalry and conviction. One example this is Willie Bodega of Bodega Dreams by Ernesto Quiñonez. Although Willie’s means are shady, he strives for the betterment of Spanish Harlem through the improvement of abandoned and damaged apartments. Next, there is John Proctor of The Crucible by Arthur Miller. Proctor refuses to provide a false confession is a true religious and personal stand. By refusing to give up his personal integrity Proctor proclaims his conviction that such integrity will bring him to heaven. Lastly, there is Holden Caulfield of Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. However, Holden displays the intrinsic converse of integrity by embodying a hypocrite. Willie Bodega and John Proctor embody the principles of integrity and let it shine through their actions. However, Holden Caulfield shows his deceit and impiety through his consistent dishonesty and hypocrisy.
Integrity is a fundamental value that the society admires and people strive for. It is a value that requires practice on a daily basis. This quality is always voiced strongly when discussing an individual’s character. When enquiring about an individual, the response usually begins with “ …that person is an honest person or the person has integrity.” Integrity and honesty
Integrity to me means going above and beyond with everything I do. I think this will fuel good grades and completion of assignments. Having good integrity also came with some confidence, because I had to do more and go outside of the crowd. I did and do more than everyone else, that made me fell a lot more confident about my actions. Confidence has pushed me to make suggestions that I otherwise wouldn't.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is an emblem of racial jurisdiction. All throughout the book it shows how the law applies to blacks as opposed to whites. Lee shows how unjust the treatment of blacks is and the disregard for their human rights. Though through the actions of the characters in the book; it can be said that their actions show a glimmer of hope for this very prejudiced society.
The novel To Kill a Mockingbird is an exquisite example of the impact of prejudice and discrimination on a small Southern town post-Depression. On Harper Lee's novel, Telgen states, "Comprising the main portion of the book's examination of racism and its effects are the underlying themes of prejudice vs. tolerance: how people feel about and respond to differences in others" (292). The motif of discrimination in this story is strongly supported by numerous examples, events, and seemingly unimportant anecdotes described throughout the novel. To Kill a Mockingbird expounds upon the ideas, thoughts, and interpretations of Jean Louise Finch (also known as Scout) and her older brother Jeremy "Jem" Finch. As the siblings live out many adventures and mature, both in years and in experience, they start to learn and recognize the prejudices occurring in their town. While they were brought up by Atticus Finch, their father- a man who strongly believes in the equality of all- others in the town of Maycomb do not have these same views. These differences lead to many problems throughout Scout's narration. This best-seller greatly expresses the repercussions of discrimination and prejudice of gender, race, and class.
Love and Life are the Best Teachers “The one thing that doesn’t abide by a majority rule is a person’s conscience.” Dalton Hare To Kill a Mockingbird The great literary classic, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, is about the ageing and maturing of two children in the old town of Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression. Basing this novel off of her own childhood Lee was able to bring the reader deep into the book with her detailed descriptions and realistic plot.
Integrity means that a person does the right thing for the right reasons. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus teaches his kids about integrity by thinking everyone is equal no matter what. Near the end of the book when Bob Ewell attacked Scout and Jem and then died, Atticus thought that Jem was the one who killed him. With the thought of his son killing a Bob Ewell, he was ready to go to a judge and plead self-defence. Although he learned that Boo Radley was the who actually killed Bob Ewell, Atticus was ready to help make sure no one knew that Boo Radley killed a man by saying Bob Ewell fell on his knife and died. Throughout the novel, Scout learns a lot of lessons from her father. A lesson that the Finch kids did not get to show their full understanding about was the lesson about integrity. That was until scout said: “Well, it’d be sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird, wouldn’t it?” (370), as she was referring to her father suggesting that they say Bob Ewell fell on his knife. She demonstrated that she knew the only reason Boo Radley killed Bob was to save her and Jem’s lives. Scout knew what would have happened to Boo if people had known he killed someone, therefore proving her understanding that it was the right thing to
“Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody's going to know whether you did it or not,” says Oprah Winfrey. Integrity is shown through unyielding support of ideals on morals, while being complete or deliberate. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, there are several strong examples of integrity. The author in To Kill a Mockingbird illustrates integrity fully and completely through two characters that really stood out to me: Atticus and Mrs. Dubose.
Integrity is an idea that has been discussed by individuals with a verbal acuity far beyond anything I could ever hope for. With that in mind, I will not delve deeply or poetically into what integrity is or should mean. However, I will simplify the meaning of integrity; at the core, integrity boils down to doing what is right even if nobody is watching. See a piece of trash on the ground and nobody is around...pick it up. Driving down the road with no cops in sight...drive the speed limit. Arrive at a tollbooth and no attendant is working…pay the toll. An applicant is not readily available to sign a form for enlistment…track them down and ensure they sign it. I could write examples until infinity becomes paltry in comparison, yet I am sure I have made my point clearly; the greater good must be upheld regardless of who is there to ensure it is happening. It seems obvious that integrity should be a trait every individual is hardwired with from birth. However, integrity is a thankless trait; nobody is around after all. An individual cannot expect someone to clap, to smile, to thank them, to do anything actually. By definition, integrity should be something that is followed through with simply because an individual wishes to do what is correct, not because they expect accolades of any sort.
Integrity is the quality of being honest. When you are honest about something or a certain situation you are considered a person of integrity. Also when you have integrity you have strong moral principles. When you have strong moral principles you know what is right and what is wrong. “Having integrity means doing the right thing in a reliable way. It's a personality trait that we admire, since it means a person has a moral compass that doesn't waver. It literally means having "wholeness" of character, just as an integer is a "whole number" with no fractions.” Furthermore, having integrity is a quality that many strive to have because it often means that you are a good person.
As you can see, the definition of honesty and integrity go hand in hand. Just as Spencer Johnson tells us, “Integrity is telling myself the truth. And honesty is telling the truth to other people.” Without honesty, there is absolutely no integrity. In the past few years, many major corporations conducted tests to determine how much of the world’s population was considered, “honest.”
In conclusion, integrity is a vital part of all our lives. Without a basic human integrity, we are animals. Integrity defines how we live, and who we are. Are we good people? Is our neighborhood safe? Is our college a great place to live? When trying to answer these questions, you first look at the integrity. In life and in death, a man will always be defined by his integrity. Is this neighborhood safe for me to my family to? Is this college a good one to send my child to? These questions are constantly being asked, and the answer always lies in integrity.