Sabina Calle
Ms. Riley
Rough draft
Due date: 10/28/09
The Crucible- Controlling idea essay

People have different thoughts about the foundation of people's lives and one of the most important is integrity. "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller and the poem "If" written by Rudyard Kipling, demonstrate how integrity is very important but also how it is hard to keep. These two authors reveal the importance of integrity in people's lives and what it is tied in with. In "The Crucible" the author shows that integrity is vital in people's lives, and the writer uses foreshadowing to illustrate this. In the book there are many examples where integrity is shown; what it takes to keep it, and what people have to experience because they have integrity. "You know well why not! He'll lay in jail if I give his name!" this lines show that although Giles wants to save his wife, he would also like to keep his integrity and not get anyone into problems and be a good friend. Giles demonstrate how integral he is, and he knows that if he lied about his friend, his friend was going to die and he did not want that, so he was sticking with his word until the end. When Giles refused to answer the charges against him and to name his friends in order to save his life, he was "pressed." Great stones were placed on his chest, one at a time, to force him into compliance. The pain was excruciating as Giles endured stone after stone placed upon him. Still he refused to give his tormentors what they sought. Giles would not betray his friends, and he would not betray his own character. He was defiant to the end. Giles' last words to the court showed his indomitable spirit. "More weight," he told them. Then he died. The example of Giles Corey's courage foreshadows that of John Proctor, who also chooses to die rather than to sacrifice his integrity. Miller shows how important integrity is, and this is shown by foreshadowing. "The Crucible" demonstrates that integrity is the most valuable attribute in life, and that people should try to keep it, all this is shown through point of view. The writer uses many examples to illustrate this and one of them is, when John Proctor is trying to keep his name. "I have confessed myself! Is there no good penitence but to be public? God knows how black my sins are! It is enough!" The author is showing how Proctor realizes that all he has is his reputation, and he knows that putting his confession to print will ruin that reputation. He refuses to do that, preferring to die honest than to live a lie. It is the first time Proctor stands up for his own integrity and for the truth, and it is the moment that breaks the influence of the court over the town, all this shows the honesty and integrity in Proctor's character. John Proctor's final speech, in Act IV serves to restore his integrity and allows him to die with dignity. Up until the time he decides to retract his confession and refuses to sign the written version preventing Danforth who is the judge and Reverend Parris posting it on the church door. Miller is trying to explain the importance of integrity, and here Proctor is a good example, because he is a character that knows what integrity is and wants to keep it. In the poem "If" written by Rudyard Kipling, the poet illustrates how important and essential integrity is in people's lives, and this is shown by imagery. This poem shows what the author thinks about integrity and how important it is for him, there are numerous examples in this poem to prove this and one these examples is when the poet writes, " if you can keep your head when all about theirs Are losing theirs and blaming it on you." the poem holds a couraging tone. If a person reads from the beginning to the end he/ she may be awaken with such positive thoughts. "if you can keep your head"..."if you can trust yourself"...."if you can wait"....all these lines emphasizes that the poet wants to convey the courage, honesty, self esteem, self-confidence that