Aaron Barefoot

Characters of Integrity
Integrity is one of the most highly-associated character traits in describing trust and
solidity in ones character. Most believe that integrity is usually accompanied by heroic and pure
characters in literature, while on the contradicting truth, integrity can be perceived in single
actions such as a self-instigated bravado, along with average characters and people. A person of
integrity can be defined as one who adheres to moral and ethical principles, maintains positive
moral and ethical qualities, and one who lives in the absence of deceit in their beliefs and
actions.
A person of integrity maintains honesty and truthfulness, avoiding deceit, insincerity and
antagonism. As honesty is the basis of healthy relationships, a person of solid integrity can
sustain prolonged relationships without losing trust or faith. An example of this type of
relationship is the relation of Doodle to the narrator of The Scarlet Ibis. Although this
relationship may seem feeble as a result of the selfishness of the narrator, no lying or deception
exists between the brothers. This is why the two remain incredibly close and connected
throughout the short story. In another short story, A Rose for Emily, Mrs. Emily tells that she
needs rat poison (implying that she intends to use it on rats), deceiving the truth, and uses it to
kill her husband. For these reasons, it can be concluded that a dishonest person may not be able
to maintain relationships well, and that a person of integrity will generally be honest and avoid
deceit.
People, whether fictional or existing, are defined by their character. Everyone has
character, but it is how morally sound ones character is which determines if a person has
integrity or not. Character is who someone is and what one does when no one is watching. By
this definition, sound character is the consistency of ones character, and how he or she acts
alone in correspondence to how he or she behaves in the presence of others. A person can
consequently be lacking other traits of integrity, but still technically have sound character. What
determines integrity through someones character is his or her morals. Morals are ethical
principles and how one views right from wrong, so therefore, morals vary per character. In The
Scarlet Ibis, the character Doodle is a person of sound moral character because at almost all
times revealed by the narrator, he maintains a purpose to please others. He pushes his physical
limits over and over again because his brother wants him to be normal and have the ability to do
what other boys can do. This form of slippery-slope eventually leads to his passing, because he
countinuously pushed his limits. An exception to this goal to please others is when his mother
does not want him to bury the scarlet ibis, but he does so anyway. From this evidence, it can be
assumed that Doodle is a character of integrity, and a person of integrity will have soundness of
moral character.
A figures consistency of sticking to his or her principles is another way of determining if
that individual is a person of integrity. Those who stick to their principles, regardless of what
those principles may be, are of integrity in this aspect. There can, however, come an instance in
which doing the right thing contradicts the individuals principles. In this case, doing the right
thing is more important than sticking to ones principles, and if his or her principles are violated
in order to do the right thing, contradicting his or her own values is justified. This is best
represented by the actions of the third president of the United States of America, Thomas
Jefferson. Jefferson, a highly educated man, believed in a strict interpretation of the U.S.
constitution, meaning that the president can only do what the constitution specifically allows.
During his presidency, he was presented with and unbeatable deal, which was the Louisiana
Purchase. Jefferson was aware that this was too good of a deal to pass up, but nowhere in the
constitution did it give the president power to buy land for national expansion. Jeffersons final
decision was to make the purchase, knowing that it was a deliberate act against his principles, but
also knowing that this would greatly benefit the country as a whole. Jeffersons integrity was
displayed by his ability to contradict his principles when doing the right thing, as all people of
integrity are able to do.
It is rather easy to claim other definitions for a term as ambiguous and extensive as
integrity. Some might state that integrity is only for specifically destined heroes and pure, divine
beings such as Luke Skywalker and Zelda, that integrity is a godly feature blessed upon the most
worthy creatures. A statement by Ayn Rand best illuminates the necessity of integrity in life,
Achievement of your happiness is the only moral purpose of your life, and that happiness, not
pain or mindless self-indulgence, is the proof of your moral integrity, since it is the proof and the
result of your loyalty to the achievement of your values. This being true, integrity cannot only
serve the greatest in society, because there are billions of happy people in the world, few of them
being what one might call superior in their fields. Also, this quote denies cynicism in those of
integrity. Although great figures often do have integrity, integrity is not only possessed by such
figures.
Integrity is not a gift for select individuals determined by the creator, nor is it only
accessible by the great ones. It certainly had the ability to aid in Jacks failure to make peace
with Ralph in Lord of the Flies. Integrity is something which can be discovered internally by
anyone, despite previous flaws and actions. It is adherence to moral and ethical principles, the
maintaining of moral and ethical qualities, and living in absence of deception.