Essay #13

The Fight for Integrity:
An Essay on Integrity in A Tale of Two Cities and My Life

Integrity is something that keeps a person true to both what they say and what they do. To have integrity is to stay consistent in your actions and words. It also means you stay not only true to others but true to yourself as well. By maintaining integrity you develop a certain balance in your life, one that helps you become a better person. 

There is an abundance of integrity in the characters of A Tale of Two Cites, by Charles Dickens. One of them being Charles Darnay. Throughout the book he has both remained true to what he says and what he believes in. He has shows that he knows what the right thing to do is and how to go about doing it. Another character with integrity is Sydney Carton. Though he may not have acted so with other people, Carton always kept his word to Lucie. At the end of the novel, he does what he believes is the right thing and switches places with Darnay, saving his life. Finally, Dr. Manette has integrity. He has loved his daughter everyday since he was reunited with her. He has never left her or intentionally hurt her since they have been together. It is this integrity that makes these characters who they are and what they choose to do. 

For me, integrity is something I try very hard to have. One of the biggest things I try to avoid being is hypocritical. If I say that I do or do not believe in something, I make an effort not to turn around and go do it. Staying true to my word can be difficult at times, but it is something I try very hard to do. I also try to stay truthful to not only myself, but to others as well. Keeping myself out of situations that might tempt me to lie for whatever reason helps me retain my integrity. However, I also try not to lie to myself or ignore something that is going on in my life, for that would be counter productive. Finally, I make an enormous effort not to judge people the first time I see them. By listening to what they have to say, I can make my decision on how I feel about them based on their personality rather than appearance. This is a better way to see people, mainly because you should never judge a book by its cover. 

Integrity keeps your mind open and your head level. Even with this being said, it can be more than hard to to maintain such an important quality. Often, integrity comes and goes like the tides; sometimes you have an abundance of it, sometimes you don't. It is the fight for integrity, however, that makes us a better person inside. 

Essay #13 Outline

Opening Paragraph
TS- Integrity keeps person true to what they say/do
     CM- Having integrity means you stay consistent in actions/words
     CM- Also means you stay true to yourself
CS-Keeps balance in your life

First Body Paragraph
TS- There is integrity in TOTC characters

     SD- Charles Darnay has integrity
          CM- True to what he says
          CM- Knows what the right thing to do is
  
     SD- Sydney Carton has integrity
          CM- Has always kept his word to Lucie
          CM- Realizes what the right thing to do is, switches places with Darney

     SD- Dr. Manette has integrity
          CM- Has loved his daughter since he was reunited with her
          CM- He never left her/ hurt her on purpose

CS- Integrity makes these characters who they are and what they chose to do

Second Body Paragraph
TS- Integrity something I try to have
     SD- I try to not be hypocritical
          CM- Try not to say don't do something, then go do it
          CM- Try to stay true to my point
  
     SD- Try to stay truthful with others as well as with myself
          CM- Try not take myself out of situations that make me feel like lying
          CM- Try not to lie to myself to ignore something thats going on in my life
  
     SD- Try not to judge on first sight
          CM- By listening to what person has to say, can choose how I feel about them based on their personality
          CM- Better way to see people, not judging a book by its cover
CS- Having a balance of integrity in my life important

Closing Paragraph
TS- Integrity keeps your mind open and head level
     CM- Can be hard to hold onto
     CM- Can come and go like tides
CS- Fighting for it makes us a better person