Quality - John Galsworthy

Quality by John Galsworthy

About the Author: John Galsworthy:

John Galsworthy (1867–1933) was a famous English novelist, dramatist, and short-story writer. He belonged to a well-to-do family and was educated at Oxford University. Galsworthy is best known for The Forsyte Saga, a series of novels dealing with the lives of the upper middle class in England. He had a deep concern for social justice and often wrote about the suffering of ordinary people. His works highlight the conflict between human values and modern commercial society. He believed that literature should expose social evils and awaken sympathy for the weak. In 1932, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his distinguished contribution to English literature.

Summary of the Story “Quality”:

The story “Quality” is about two German shoemakers, the Gessler brothers, who run a small boot shop in London. They are highly skilled craftsmen and make boots by hand with great care and patience. Their boots are famous for their comfort and durability, and once made, they last for many years. The narrator is a loyal customer who deeply admires their work.

The Gessler brothers believe that shoemaking is an art and refuse to compromise with quality. They do not advertise or follow fashion, and they dislike machine-made shoes. However, modern big firms produce cheap, fashionable boots using machines and attract customers through advertisements. As a result, the Gesslers gradually lose their customers and face financial difficulties.

One of the brothers dies quietly, and the younger brother continues the business alone despite poor health and hunger. He works sincerely till the end but finally dies of slow starvation. The story ends on a tragic note, showing how honest craftsmanship is destroyed in a profit-driven society. Through this story, Galsworthy criticizes modern commercialism and highlights the dignity and tragedy of true quality.

Questions and Answers:

1. What problem does Galsworthy present in “Quality”?

In “Quality”, Galsworthy presents the problem of the decline of true craftsmanship in the modern world. He shows how hand-made skilled work is replaced by machine-made goods. The Gessler brothers represent honest and devoted craftsmen. They make excellent boots but cannot compete with big firms. Modern customers prefer cheap and fashionable shoes. Advertisement plays a greater role than quality. Profit becomes more important than honesty and skill. Skilled workers suffer because of industrialization. The Gesslers work hard but live in poverty. Society fails to recognize their worth. Their silent suffering highlights economic injustice. Thus, Galsworthy criticizes a commercial-minded society.

2. Why did Mr. Gessler display the same variety of boots?

Mr. Gessler displayed the same variety of boots because he did not believe in fashion. He believed that a good design never becomes old. For him, comfort and durability were more important than style. He disliked unnecessary change. He made boots according to his own standards, not market demand. He believed in perfection rather than variety. Fashion, in his opinion, spoiled quality. He also disliked display and showmanship. He believed customers should come for quality, not attraction. His attitude showed his devotion to craftsmanship. This habit made his shop look old-fashioned. It also reduced his business.

3. How would one be received at the shop of Mr. Gessler?

A customer would be received quietly at Mr. Gessler’s shop. There was no salesmanship or loud greeting. Mr. Gessler spoke very little. He carefully observed the customer’s feet. He examined them with seriousness and respect. He asked simple and direct questions. He never tried to persuade or flatter the customer. The atmosphere of the shop was calm and serious. The shop was dim and silent. The customer felt the dignity of true workmanship. There was no hurry or pressure. The experience was very different from modern shops.

4. Why was Mr. Gessler not successful in spite of the superior quality of boots made by him?

Mr. Gessler was not successful because he did not adopt modern business methods. He never advertised his boots. He worked very slowly and took a long time to complete orders. His boots were costly because they were hand-made. Customers preferred cheaper machine-made shoes. Big firms attracted buyers with advertisements and offers. Mr. Gessler disliked fashion and variety. He refused to compromise with quality. He also disliked display and publicity. His honesty limited his business growth. Thus, quality alone could not bring success. His sincerity became the cause of his failure.

5. Why had Mr. Gessler sold one of his shops?

Mr. Gessler sold one of his shops due to financial difficulties. His business was slowly declining. Customers were moving to big firms. He could not earn enough to maintain two shops. His devotion to quality reduced his income. He never increased production or advertising. He also refused to change his methods. Selling the shop was a painful decision. He did it silently without complaint. It showed his helplessness. It reflected the decline of his business. The incident adds to the sadness of the story.

6. Give an example of pathos in the story “Quality.”

One strong example of pathos is the death of the younger Gessler. He worked hard even when his health was failing. He had very little food and money. He continued making boots with great care. He never complained about hunger or suffering. His shop remained quiet and empty. He lived alone after his brother’s death. His dedication to quality never changed. Finally, he died of slow starvation. His death went unnoticed by society. This scene deeply moves the reader. It shows the tragic fate of honest craftsmen.

7. What is the difference between the attitude of the Gessler brothers and that of the other firms regarding the manufacture of the boots?

The Gessler brothers believed in quality and perfection. They made boots slowly and carefully by hand. They used the best leather and materials. They never compromised with workmanship. Other firms believed in mass production. They used machines to produce boots quickly. They focused on profit rather than durability. Advertisement and fashion were important to them. Their boots were cheaper but not long-lasting. The Gesslers treated shoemaking as an art. Other firms treated it as a business. Galsworthy contrasts honesty with commercialism.

Short Notes:

1. Title of the Story “Quality”

The title “Quality” is highly appropriate because the entire story revolves around the idea of true quality in workmanship. John Galsworthy uses the title to emphasize not only the excellence of the boots made by the Gessler brothers but also the moral values they represent. From the beginning, the narrator praises the durability and comfort of their boots, saying that once made, they lasted for years. This establishes quality as the central concern of the story.

The boots made by the Gesslers are hand-crafted with great care and patience. For example, when the narrator complains about pain caused by boots bought from a big firm, Mr. Gessler immediately recognizes them as machine-made and inferior. He firmly says, “Id is an Ardt,” showing his belief that shoemaking is a serious craft. In contrast, modern firms focus on speed, fashion, and quantity, producing boots that look attractive but wear out quickly.

The title also suggests moral quality such as honesty, dedication, and self-respect. The Gesslers never advertise, cheat, or flatter customers. Even when they suffer poverty and hunger, they refuse to compromise their principles. Thus, the title “Quality” perfectly captures both the theme and the message of the story.

2. Pathos in the Story “Quality”

Pathos is one of the strongest elements in Galsworthy’s “Quality.” The story deeply moves the reader by presenting the silent suffering of the Gessler brothers. Although they are highly skilled, their shop remains empty most of the time. The narrator notices that the shop grows darker and quieter with each visit, symbolizing their decline. This creates sympathy and sadness.

The death of the elder Gessler is a deeply pathetic moment. It occurs quietly, without any attention from society. After his death, the younger brother continues working alone despite failing health. He looks thinner, weaker, and more exhausted, yet he never complains. His silence makes his suffering more touching.

The most painful example of pathos is the death of the younger Gessler. The narrator later learns that he died of slow starvation. Even in his final days, he continued making boots carefully. Society fails to recognize his sacrifice. Galsworthy uses this pathos to criticize a heartless commercial world.

3. Gessler Brothers

The Gessler brothers are the central figures in the story “Quality.” They are old German shoemakers living in London. Their physical appearance shows poverty and hard labour: thin bodies, tired faces, and worn-out clothes. Despite this, they maintain dignity and self-respect. They speak little and appear serious and reserved.

Both brothers are deeply devoted to their craft. They believe shoemaking is an art that requires patience and perfection. For example, they take several weeks to complete an order and personally measure the customer’s feet. They use only the best leather and make boots entirely by hand. They strongly dislike machine-made shoes, which they consider inferior.

The Gesslers fail not because of lack of skill but because of their rigid principles. They refuse to advertise or follow fashion. They accept suffering silently rather than compromise quality. Their lives symbolize the tragic decline of traditional craftsmanship in a modern commercial society.

4. Problems Presented in the Story “Quality”

The main problem presented in “Quality” is the conflict between craftsmanship and industrialism. Galsworthy shows how hand-made skill is gradually destroyed by machine-made mass production. The Gessler brothers represent honest craftsmen, while big firms represent commercial business. Customers prefer cheap, fashionable boots even if they lack comfort.

Another serious problem is the dominance of advertisement over real quality. Big firms attract customers through publicity and sales techniques. The Gesslers refuse to advertise, believing that good work should speak for itself. As a result, their superior boots fail to reach customers. This shows how genuine talent is ignored in modern society.

The story also exposes economic injustice and social neglect. Skilled workers like the Gesslers live in poverty and die unnoticed. Their suffering remains unrecognized by society. Through this problem, Galsworthy criticizes a system that values profit over human skill and dignity.