Sam

2/3/11

English

Mr. Salsich

Being the Same Person:

An Essay About Integrity

One core value I find in the novel A Tale of Two Cities and my life is integrity. Integrity is when a person can be depended on and trusted. Integrity is when someone has high moral principles. Integrity is when someone keeps their personality consistent. Integrity can be found not only in a few characters in A Tale of Two Cities, but throughout my own life.

In A Tale of Two Cities, integrity can be found in three of the main characters. One example is Carton taking Charles place in jail when sentenced to the Guillotine. The only reason Carton came to Paris was to be the “man who would give his life, to keep a life you love beside you”. It shows a great amount of integrity, character and courage on Cartons part to sacrifice his life for Charles. Also, Charles going all the way to Pairs to help his loyal servant Gabelle from being killed in a prison is another example of integrity. Charles going to this hostile(fast) city to save his servant is “like the mariner in the old story, the winds and streams had driven him within the influence of the Loadstone Rock, and it was drawing him to itself, and he must go”. This noble action shows immense(fast) character and trust because he is willing to help a friend in need no matter what the risk. Lastly, Mr. Lorry is another example of integrity. He has often been referred to as” A man of business that looks out for the family”. Mr. Lorry has been with the Manette’s throughout the entire book, always helping them where ever he can, always being right at their side, always making sure they are alright, always looking out for them. (tricolon) When Lucie left to go on a vacation with Charles, Mr. Lorry stuck by Dr. Manette while he was in a depressed state of mind. All three of these characters are all real true people who always do the right thing no matter what the cost.

In my own life I feel the core value of integrity fits best me. I know that my personality is consistent in all situations I am in. I am a calm, but happy person that is laid back. Because of my calm predictable personality, I tend to not get worked up over many things such as school, or sports. Throughout my life I have acquired my own morals that I have learned through family, church, and music. One major example of integrity in my life that I follow to the best of my abilities is not falling into peer pressure or following the crowed, but “marching to my own tune”. I do listen to people, but I do what I think is best, “tell the Wind and Fire where to stop, but don't tell me." For example: I stick up for my beliefs, like not doing drugs, or following my religion. I also try to be an honest person who tells the truth. I like to live my life being an honest person that someone can trust. It feels better knowing you tell the truth than living in a tangle of lies. I feel I live my life to be an open person who can always be depended on no matter what the situation, always there to help, always having a calm disposition, never stressing over problems, ready to attack a problem that arises in front of me.(coordinate cumulative sentence)

To live a life with integrity you need to be a wholesome person with homegrown morals. To live as a person who can be trusted and depended on to be the same person in different situations is a tricky thing. However, I believe that the characters and I demonstrate some fine examples of integrity.

I feel I did particularly well on essay 13. One issue I continue to work on in my writing is blending quotes. However, I feel I blended my quotes pretty good this time. I do feel that the required quote in the second body paragraph from A Tale of Two Cities was stretched a little bit too much. It was hard to find a good quote. One strong point I see in this essay is my tricolon and coordinate cumulative sentence. I think the blend and sound really good. A possible weak point is again the quotes. I would give myself a B- on this essay.