Quality

John Galsworthy
https://www.aees.gov.in/htmldocs/downloads/e-content_06_04_20/VII_ENG_L
05_M01_QUALITY_HANDOUT.pdf
1. Intro + Author’s Biography
Hello everyone, we're A Universe and today we will help you to explore the
next story. Before we start I have a question for all of you.
In this modern life, what are the more important factors to be a successful
business? Wide-spread promoting and advertising or be low-key and focus on
the products' quality? To find out the answer, let's delve deeper into today's
story: “Quality" by John Galsworthy.
Okay. First, let's go through the content of our presentation. There are 10
sections that we dive into.
The very first part we need to discuss is the author's biography and how his life
events affect his focal topics in career. Next, we will have a brief introduction to this
short story. After the brief introduction, we will have some discussions and activities
over the plot summary. And then, we will explore the setting. After those sections,
we will move to a very important part of this presentation. You know what it is, right?
Yes, it is the section for character analysis. Beside that, we will also discuss the
writer’s POV and the main theme of the story as well as the figurative language
used. Finally, we will present to you the students’ responses.
1. Author's biography
- John Galsworthy (1867 – 1933)
-He was a popular and prolific English novelist and playwright in the early
decades of the 20th century.
- Galsworthy was also a successful dramatist, his plays, written in a naturalistic
style.
- He is best known today as the author of "The Forsyte Saga”
 ● FOCAL TOPIC: Social and ethical problems, moral issues, in particular,
the dire effects of poverty.
- Galsworthy had a lifelong interest in social and moral issues, in particular, the
dire effects of poverty. Some of his concerns are about the struggle of workers
against exploitation, the use of solitary confinement in prisons, the repression of
women, and jingoism and the politics and morality of war,...
- Particularly, his novels addressed the class system in England, especially the
rise of the merchant class, or "new money," and its relations to the aristocracy,
or "old money." In the wake of the Industrial Revolution and urbanization, his
works reflected the inevitable conflicts that arose during the transition from a
more pastoral society to a modern one. That's also reflected our story today.
● LIFE EVENT: Here are some LE that may have a significant in his
career
- 1867: Galsworthy was born at Kingston Hill in Surrey, England, into an
established wealthy family, the son of John and Blanche Bailey (nee Bartleet)
Galsworthy.
- In 1876 he was sent to Saugeen, a small preparatory school in Bournemouth
and then he moved to Harrow School.
- 1881–1886: After attending Harrow School, he went on to study law at New
College, Oxford. His biographer Catherine Dupré calls his time at Oxford "a
happy, almost frivolous, interlude in a life that was lived in general with the
greatest solemnity".
- 1890: He was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn. At that time, Galsworthy was
in an excellent position/ for a young barrister/ due to his father’s good deal of
work and recommending him to other solicitors. However, he was
unenthusiastic about practicing as a barrister and not interested in practicing
law; instead, he chose to travel abroad to look after the family's shipping
business interests.
- 1893: While traveling with the aim of studying marine law, he met Joseph
Conrad, on a South Seas voyage near Adelaide, Australia. The two future
novelists soon became life-long friends. Galsworthy found law uncongenial
and took to writing.
- 1895: Galsworthy began an affair with Ada Nemesis Pearson, the wife of one
of his cousins.
- 1892: Galsworthy and a friend from Oxford, Ted Sanderson, began a long trip
that took them to the South Seas, Australia and South Africa.
- 1905: After her divorce, the pair eventually married and stayed together until
his death.
- During World War I: he worked in a hospital in France as an orderly after
being passed over for military service. John Galsworthy lived for the final seven
years of his life at Bury in West Sussex.
- 1924: he co-founded the international writer's organization PEN.
- 1933: John Galsworthy died of a stroke at his home in London.
● ACHIEVEMENT
- In 1929: Galsworthy was awarded the Order of Merit.
- In 1932 : He won the Nobel Prize for literature "for his distinguished art of
narration which takes its highest form in The Forsyte Saga" published between
1906 and 1921 and as a collection in 1922
- Over the course of his lifetime he earned honorary degrees from the
Universities St Andrews (1922), Manchester (1927), Dublin (1929), Cambridge
(1930), Sheffield (1930), Oxford (1931), Princeton (1931), and an honorary
fellow of New College, Oxford.
● LITERARY WORKS
Galsworthy wrote 20 novels; 28 completed plays; five collections of short
stories; three volumes of poetry; eleven volumes of essays and sketches; and
occasional stories and pamphlets, newspaper articles, unpublished essays and
sketches. These are some of his notable works.
NOVELS
For his works
+ 1897: He wrote “From the Four Winds”, which is a collection of short stories
+ 1898: He continued with the novel “Jocelyn”
And both were published at his own expense, he used the pseudonym John
Sinjohn.
+ 1904: “The Island Pharisees” was the first book to appear under his own
name.
+ 1906: he wrote “The Man of Property” and began the novel sequence known
as The Forsyte Saga
- Others in the same series are “Indian Summer of a Forsyte” (1918, in Five
Tales), In Chancery (1920), Awakening (1920), and To Let (1921).
The novels imply that their desire for property is morally wrong. The saga
intersperses diatribes against wealth with lively passages describing character
and background.
- The story of the Forsyte family after World War I was continued in
+ The White Monkey (1924),
+ The Silver Spoon (1926),
+ Swan Song (1928), collected in A Modern Comedy (1929).
- Galsworthy’s other novels include
+ The Country House (1907)
+ The Patrician (1911)
+ The Freelands (1915)
PLAYS
+ 1906: his first play, “The Silver Box” became a success. Like many of his
other works, it has a legal theme and depicts a bitter contrast of the law’s
treatment of the rich and the poor
+ Strife (1909), a study of industrial relations
+ Justice (1910), a realistic portrayal of prison life that roused so much feeling
that it led to reform
+ Loyalties (1922)

2. Brief introduction (Quỳnh)

- “Quality” is published in 1912
- It first appeared in "The Inn of Tranquility: Studies and Essays" (Heinemann,
1912)
- In the era of advertisment, original craftsmen gradually met difficulties in his
job due to the lack of promoting and loss of customers. However, for them, they
were not known because of the widespread fame but of their quality products,
so they remained that fire and continueed their job. In the narrative essay
"Quality" by John Galsworthy, we can witness the bitter struggle for the
existence of the Gessler Brothers in the days of competition and advertisement
from which they entirely remained away for lack of resources and their
old-fashioned ideals. Consequently, the skilled and experienced workers have to
suffer starvation and yield to those more resourceful and enterprising, however
unskilled they may be but prosper by compromising with quality and principles.
- The story not only shows readers the commitment of an artist, here is the
Shoemaker, towards his art and his ultimate death by starvation but also exposes
the sad loss of art and quality of work in the world of fashion, pomp and
materialism.

3. PLOT SUMMARY:

Good afternoon, everyone. My full name is Nguyen Tran Nha Tu

After the introduction presented by PQuynh, let’s move on to the next part -
PLOT SUMMARY.
So, I have two terms: Linear Plot and Non-linear Plot

Linear Plot is the Plot indicating the events in order, from the past, present, and
future. But Non-Linear Plot does not. In Non Linear Plot, we can see some plot
techniques such as: Flashback, foreshadowing, or sub plot,etc. SO CLASS,
WHAT KIND OF PLOT IS USED IN THIS STORY? -> YES, it is a
LINEAR PLOT. So let me show you the details of this plot.

a. Brief summary (KO ĐỌC EVIDENCE)

The plot is Linear or Progressive plot.

What is this? A linear plot has a beginning, middle, and end and is constructed
chronologically. In other words, Linear plot structure, also known as
chronological plot structure, is a traditional narrative structure in which events
are presented in the order they occur.

-> It keeps telling us in chronological events about the main character and his
point of view of Mr Gesslers throughout the story

You know about this kind of plot. Now, I have an activity for you. In this part,
you need to put the sentences in chronological and sequential order because I
rearrange them randomly. Ok, so now 1 min to prepare your answer and go to
the board, when I say “LET’S START”, try your best to finish your answer.

Ok, congrats…. And this is the answer [slide 16]

Now, let’s analyze the plot of “Quality”. But before that, I will explain why I
think this work has two climaxes.

It is because rising action 1 leads to climax 1, rising action 2 leads to climax 2.

I want to start with the existence of the main cause leading to the misery in the
lives of the Gessler brothers, which is the emergence of large enterprises and
their low-quality products flooding the market. They raise concerns about the
tiny shop of the Gessler brothers.

Next is about rising action 2 and climax 2. According to you, what will they be?
They are the deaths of the elder brother and the younger brother. Why? Because
we all know that the Gessler brothers are the main shoemakers in the story,
representing purity and passion for their craft. However, luck did not come to
them. They were too weak, too genuine to overcome the carelessness of those
"lacking self-respect." Therefore, I chose the death of the elder brother as rising
action 2, an element that will constantly evoke sympathy, but it is only the
factor that leads to the climax, which is the death of the younger brother. We all
know, the younger brother is the one described the most in the story, from
appearance to work gestures. He is diligent, but he also cannot overcome the
changing times. His death, more than anything, makes us sympathize and feel
sorry for a pitiful fate in the society of England at that time.

1. The narrator told about the Gessler brothers' shoe shop in the West End of
London and showed the qualities and appearance of the two brothers. →
exposition

(“I knew him from the days of my extreme youth, because he made my father’s
boot.”, Page 1, the 1st paragraph, the 1st line).

In the first two paragraphs, the author gave us an overview of the characters.
Through them, we can know about their nationality (German), their job, how
they look and their talents. This introduction provides an overview of the
background, and creates curiosity and encourages them -> readers to continue
the story.

2. The narrator visited the store less than he used to.

(“For it was not possible to go to him very often—his boots lasted terribly,
having something beyond the temporary—some, as it were, essence of boot
stitched into them.”, Page 2, paragraph 3).

3. The narrator knew that the low-quality shoes were not the product he made
but no self-respect virms. → rising action 1

Once, the narrator told the shoe craftsmanship about poor quality shoes and
knew that it was not the product he made but no self-respect virms.

(“dose big virms ‘ave no self-respect. Drash!”, Page 3, the 3rd paragraph
bottom up, the 1st line).

At this point we can see that/ the problems have begun to appear, the climax is
gradually being pushed up/, with the existence of large factories/, which will
bring an extremely profound conflict in this work."Why? Because those big
corporations have stolen customers from the two brothers, delivering
low-quality products/ and damaging the shoemaking profession."

4. The old man spoke bitterly about the advertising of big factories that made
the work they worked hard to do difficult. → conflict

(“It was the only time I ever heard him discuss the conditions and hardships of
his trade”, Page 3, the 3rd paragraph bottom up, the 2-3).

Now, the story has shed more light on the conflict, revealing the hardships faced
by the Gessler brothers in their work.

This is the first time the younger brother has shared these difficulties, enough to
understand how the big corporations have overwhelmed such silent, humble
individuals.
5. One of the two little windows of the shop, another name was painted for the
Royal Family. → climax 1

(“When at last I went I was surprised to find that outside one of the two little
windows of his shop another name was painted, also that of a
bootmaker--making, of course, for the Royal Family. The old familiar boots, no
longer in dignified isolation, were huddled in the single window. Inside, the now
contracted well of the one little shop was more scented and darker than ever.
And it was longer than usual, too, before a face peered down, and the tip-tap of
the bast slippers began.”, Page 4, line 1-2).

The mention of another bootmaker's name painted outside the shop signifies a
significant shift, indicating that Mr. Gessler's business has been taken over by a
competitor who caters to the Royal Family. This change is emphasized by the
description of the old familiar boots, once displayed with dignity, now huddled
in a single window, suggesting a loss of prominence and identity.

The language used, such as "surprised," "no longer in dignified isolation,"

"huddled," and "contracted well," evokes a feeling of sadness and nostalgia. The
atmosphere inside the shop is described as "more scented and darker than ever,"
which adds to the sense of gloom and change. The delay before a face appears
and the sound of bast slippers/ signals a departure from the usual promptness
and warmth of Mr. Gessler's service/, further contributing to the somber mood.

6. The elder brother of Gessler died. → rising action 2

(“but my elder brudder is dead.”, Page 4, line 9 bottom up).

As I mentioned, the death of the elder brother is a marker for the extremely
serious consequences of big virms. The elder brother could have died from
poverty due to lack of customers, or he could have died from being too
saddened by losing half of the shop.
7. After 15 years, the narrator came back to the shop but the younger brother did
not remember the narrator and whether he told him about the death or not.

("Did I dell you my brudder was dead?", Page 5, line 14).

(“To watch him was painful, so feeble had he grown...” Page 5, line 15).

At that time, the younger brother is all alone, and he is truly pitiful as he
gradually becomes absent-minded, forgetting many things.

8. On a Wednesday evening, the narrator received shoes of the same quality and
price as usual.

(“I had given those boots up, when one evening they came”, Page 5, line 16).

(“In shape and fit, in finish and quality of leather, they were the best he had ever
made me. And in the mouth of one of the Town walking-boots I found his bill.
The amount was the same as usual, but it gave me quite a shock.”, Page 5, line
17-19).

We can see that, despite the hardships of life, the younger brother, the sole

remaining owner of the shop, remains loyal to his work in an upright manner,

using the best materials but never exploiting them to increase prices.

9. A week later, the narrator knew the younger brother had died because of
starvation. → climax 2

("Slow starvation, the doctor called it!”, Page 6, line 6).

Here, we witness another heart-wrenching event. Even though we know that the
younger brother's unwavering determination not to change his business strategy
will cause him suffering, readers still feel immense pity for his death. We see
how harsh life's realities can be, squeezing the humble individuals in terrifying
ways.

10. The narrator said Mr.Gessler used to devote himself to shoe making and the
replacement of the new store. → conclusion

("That may be a bit flowery, as the sayin' is--but I know myself he was sittin'
over his boots day and night, to the very last. You see I used to watch him. Never
gave 'imself time to eat; never had a penny in the house. All went in rent and
leather. How he lived so long I don't know. He regular let his fire go out. He was
a character. But he made good boots.", Page 6, line 13-15).

The Resolution begins from “ I went in, very much disturbed ” till the end of the
story. During this part of the plot, the narrator came to the shop that used to be
owned by Mr. Gessler just to find out the old name of the shop had gone, yet its
initial parts remained. Then he met a young Englishman who’s in charge of it,
which came as the first shock to him. As the story progresses further, the cause
of Mr. Gessler's death - starvation - was informed to the narrator. Such
information dealt a massive blow to his unprepared mind since he is not ready
to know his long-acquainted shoemaker has died from starvation. The
conversation between the two people goes on, and the reasons leading to Mr.
Gessler’s death were further elaborated. Nevertheless, the resolution’s not
coated in a grim and tragic atmosphere, since at least both the narrator and the
young Englishman greatly appreciated Mr. Gessler’s dedication and
craftsmanship in shoe making.

b. CONFLICTS:

1. Man vs. Himself

- He was a boot maker, and he always made the best quality boots although
he was old and poor:
Here, we will clarify the points regarding old age, poverty, and the younger
brother's diligence.

+ Old:

(“And I saw that it was indeed himself—but how aged and wan!”, Page 4, line 8
bottom up).

(“And the first shop I went to was my old friend's. I had left a man of sixty, I
came back to one of seventy-five, pinched and worn and tremulous, who
genuinely, this time, did not at first know me.”, Page 5, the 1st paragraph).

(“And with utter slowness, he traced round my foot, and felt my toes, only once
looking up to say…”, Page 5, line 12-13).

("Did I dell you my brudder was dead?", Page 5, line 14).

(“To watch him was painful, so feeble had he grown; and I was glad to get
away.”, Page 5, line 15).

+ Poor:

(“Poor old man starved 'himself.", Page 6, line 4).

+ Good quality:

(“It was very long before they came—but they were better than ever. One simply
could not wear them out.”, Page 4, the 2 last lines).

(“In shape and fit, in finish and quality of leather, they were the best he had ever
made me.”, Page 5, line 17-18).
(“And there he'd sit, goin' on and on—I will say that for him—not a man in
London made a better boot!”, Page 6, line 8-9).

(“Would 'ave the best leather, too, and do it all 'imself..”, Page 6, line 10).

(“"Yes," I said, "he made good boots."”, Page 6, line 2 bottom up).

=> From the evidence I have presented to you, do you find this character
sympathetic? Yes, indeed. We all are born and will perish, no one can change
the circle of life, yet I cannot help but be moved witnessing the younger brother,
despite extremely difficult health and economic conditions, remaining
steadfastly loyal/ to his profession and determined to deliver/ the best products
to the customers.

- He was poor but he did not want to change

We can see that the brothers would rather die of starvation than advertise or
cheapen their products.

("He never advertised! Would 'ave the best leather, too, and do it all 'imself.",
Page 6, line 9-10).

("Id 'urds you dere," he said. "Dose big virms 'ave no self-respect. Drash!" And
then, as if something had given way within him, he spoke long and bitterly.”,
Page 3, the 3rd paragraph bottom up, line 1-2).

→ This leads to financial struggles ("He regular let his fire go out. He was a
character. But he made good boots")

- Quality vs. Timeliness:

Gessler prioritized creating high-quality boots, even if it took longer

("For it was not possible to go to him very often--his boots lasted terribly,
having something beyond the temporary--some, as it were, essence of boot
stitched into them", Page 2, paragraph 3).

When he got older: (“It was very long before they came—but they were better
than ever. One simply could not wear them out.”, Page 4, the 2 last lines).

(“And with utter slowness, he traced round my foot, and felt my toes, only once
looking up to say…”, Page 5, line 12-13).

→ This can lead to internal conflict as he wants to please customers but also
maintain his standards.

2. Man vs. society: MAIN

- The competition between the large companies that did not care about the
small shop (Big virms with Gessler Brothers): (classical >< modern)

The shop was located in a small street, not as many big virms.

(“two little shops let into one, in a small by-street--now no more, but then most
fashionably placed in the West End.”, Page 1, the 1st paragraph, line 2-3).

- His shop was new with some customers because two brothers never
advertised their products.

("Dey get id all," he said, "dey get id by adverdisement, nod by work. Dey dake
it away from us, who lofe our boods.”, Page 3, the 2nd paragraph bottom up,
line 1-2).

(“But look at the competition! He never advertised!”, Page 6, line 9).

- Customer Expectations vs. Gessler's Approach:

Customers become impatient with Gessler's slow and meticulous process

("People won't wait. He lost everybody", Page 6, line 8).

→ This creates a clash between Gessler's dedication and the changing

expectations of the market.

- Love for boots vs. love for money:

Mr. Gessler, upon hearing about the sparse, squeaky quality shoes, asked his
guest to bring them over for him to see. ("Zend dem back!" he said; "I will look
at dem., Page 3, line 9).

This is an attitude of honesty and love for the profession, determined to bring
customers the best products.

Meanwhile, big virms only paid attention to the number of customers they
reached, not delivering optimal products/ even though they had the support of
machines. Sadly, the squeaky shoes that the narrator wore are the product of
these people who "lack professional ethics" and had no self-esteem.

? What do you think about thís conflict? - PThao

4. SETTING:

- Place:

+ London:

(“And there he'd sit, goin' on and on--I will say that for him--not a man in
London made a better boot!”, Page 6, line 8-9).

(“It was over a year before I was again in London”, Page 5, the 1st line).

+ The West End of London, the streets, and the two shop
(“two little shops let into one, in a small by-street--now no more, but then most
fashionably placed in the West End.”, Page 1, the 1st paragraph)

+ In the shop:

Wooden chair: (“Without a word he would leave me, retiring whence he came,
or into the other portion of the shop, and I would continue to rest in the wooden
chair, inhaling the incense of his trade.”, Page 2, paragraph 6, the 1st line).

Narrow wooden stairs: (“A guttural sound, and the tip-tap of bast slippers
beating the narrow wooden stairs, and he would stand before one without coat,
a little bent, in leather apron, with sleeves turned back, blinking--as if awakened
from some dream of boots, or like an owl surprised in daylight and annoyed at
this interruption”, Page 2, paragraph 4, 3 lines bottom up).

- Atmosphere/Ambience:

+ quiet, not so full of paced moves yet quite intriguing.

( “That tenement had a certain quiet distinction”, Page 1, the 2nd paragraph,
the 1st line).

+ peaceful and comfortable

(“One went in, not as into most shops, in the mood of: "Please serve me, and
let me go!" but restfully, as one enters a church; and, sitting on the single
wooden chair, one waited—for there was never anybody there. Soon, over the
top edge of that sort of well—rather dark, and smelling soothingly of
leather—which formed the shop, there would be seen his face, or that of his
elder brother, peering down. A guttural sound, and the tip-tap of bast slippers
beating the narrow wooden stairs”, Page 2, paragraph 4, line 1-5).

+ smell of leather and the dark

(“Inside, the now contracted well of the one little shop was more scented and
darker than ever. And it was longer than usual, too, before a face peered down,
and the tip-tap of the bast slippers began.”, Page 4, the 1st paragraph, line 3
bottom up).

⇒ Here, through artistic techniques, the author has depicted a cozy and intimate
space. We can imagine the scent of wood mingling with the smell of leather
throughout the shop, a scent that is both ancient and simple, emanating from
its owner - calm and passionate about his craft. The two brother lived in such
space, a very warm and cozy home.

+ Confusion, discomfort, and sadness.

(“To watch him was painful, so feeble had he grown; and I was glad to get
away.”, Page 5, line 15).

(“And I turned and went out quickly, for I did not want that youth to know that I
could hardly see.”, Page 6, the last line).

- Time mentioned in the story: (+ Year of publication: 1912) -> Do you know
what event we had that time? We had a Revolution. It’s Industrial Revo. This is
why we can see the change in many businesses and advertising issue.

So, the first period of time you need to know is that + The background of
this story occurred in the 1700s above because they still use penny for the
payment.

("Never gave 'himself time to eat; never had a penny in the house.", Page 6, line
14-15).

+ Historical background: Industrial revolution and advertised products in

the 20th Century shifted the traditional workers.
The shop compete with a big farm as industrial revolution with advertised
product. This concept of advertising to reach a wider audience is a hallmark of
the Industrial Revolution.

("Dey get id all," he said, "dey get id by adverdisement, nod by work.”, Page 3,
paragraph 2 bottom up, the 1st line).

+ Tomorrow fortnight:

(“And he would say: "To-morrow ford-nighd?", Page 2, paragraph 6, the last

line).

+ Morning:

(“Then I would murmur: "Thank you! Good-morning, Mr. Gessler."

"Goot-morning!" he would reply, still looking at the leather in his hand”, Page
2, paragraph 7, line 1-2).

+ Over a year:

(“It was over a year before I was again in London.”, Page 5, the 1st line).

+ 15 years:

(“I had left a man of sixty, I came back to one of seventy-five, Page 5, line 2”).

+ Many months:

(“One does not, I suppose, care to feel like that; for it was again many months
before my next visit to his shop...Page 4, line 16-17).

And it also proof for the point that the narror didnt visit the shop much.

+ A week later:
(“A week later, passing the little street, I thought I would go in and tell him how
splendidly the new boots fitted.”, Page 5, line 9 bottom up).

=> With an incredibly profound writing style, the author has constructed a
uniquely compelling story, where events unfold in a manner/ that is perfectly
logical and coherent with the passage of time. This is the highlight of the linear
plot structure.

5. Character analysis (2 main +2 minor) (Mi)

As you can see from this story, I will show you a more detailed analysis about 4
characters, including the Gessler brothers, the Narrator and the Englishman.

First, we will walk through the Gessler brothers. They basically were
immigrants from Germany. They had set up the shoe-making shop in a small
by-street of London for their livelihood. Both the brothers died due to financial
loss in the business. To begin with the younger one of Gessler brothers, also the
main and important character.

6.1. Mr.Gessler (Younger brother):

Role: main character (protagonist) - round - dynamic

Profile: German - an extremely skilled and committed boot maker - the younger
one in Gessler brothers - very passionate, perfectionist, hard working,
consistent, love art, weird, and looks different from most people.

Brief info: Mr. Gessler is a man of peculiar quality. He is a character by

himself. He is not an average man; he is rather a typical sort of person. He is the
younger of the two Gessler Brothers and the central character (or protagonist) of
the short story. He has been described as a passionate and hardworking
shoemaker. And he also stands for a high degree of passion in his art of
shoemaking. He has been portrayed as a stubborn artist trying to keep the dying
art of handmade things alive in the world of advertisements and publicity.

Appearance (Physical Traits):

Mr. Gessler has been presented as a little, short - statured man as he seems a
little stooped and bent because of hard work. His face is pale. He has a lot of
wrinkles on his face. His hair and beard are reddish. Particularly, he has crinkly,
curly, red hair, and a thick red beard. His skin is leathery, yellowish, crinkled
and his eyes are gray-blue and somber with a look of utter commitment and
seriousness. His voice is deep, guttural, monotonous, and he speaks with a
heavy German accent, all in conformity with his German origin. He has been
described as if made from leather, suggesting that he is firm like leather but also
“slow of purpose”, or slow in execution. The narrator brings to us the
importance of Mr. Gessler's “gray – blue” eyes by divesting them with the
“simple gravity of one secretly possessed by the ideal”. This clearly indicates
that Mr. Gessler's ideal of being perfectionist reflects in his eyes.

Evidence:

“Himself, he was a little as if made from leather, with his yellow crinkly face,
and crinkly reddish hair and beard, and neat folds slanting down his cheeks to
the corners of his mouth, and his guttural and one-toned voice; for leather is a
sardonic substance, and stiff and slow of purpose. And that was the character of
his face, save that his eyes, which were gray-blue, had in them the simple
gravity of one secretly possessed by the Ideal.” (Page 1, last paragraph)

Characterisation:

1. Humility, Kindness and Generosity:

Once the narrator complained about the boots made by Mr Gessler, Mr Gessler
promised to take it back and cancel the charges. This shows the humility of the
artist. Art requires humility and Mr Gessler’s humility helped him improve his
craft as Mr.Gessler believed in “work is worship”.

"Zend dem back!" he said; "I will look at dem."

"Zome boods," he said slowly, "are bad from birdt. If I can do noding wid dem, I
dake dem off your bill." (Page 3, line 9 + 12)

Mr. Gessler is depicted as a kind and generous individual who cares deeply
about his customers and takes pride in providing them with high-quality shoes.
He goes out of his way to accommodate their needs and preferences, even if it
means sacrificing his own well-being. Mr. Gessler's kindness and generosity
endear him to his customers and serve as a testament to his character.

“He looked long at my boots--a pair of Russia leather, and his face seemed to
regain steadiness. Putting his hand on my instep, he said: "Do dey vid you here?
I 'ad drouble wid dat bair, I remember.” (Page 5, paragraph 3)

Once the narrator went into his shop in a pair of boots bought in an emergency
at some large firm. And then after looking carefully, Mr Gessler quickly told the
narrator those were not his boots. Saying so, he pressed his fingers on a part of
the boot where comfort was compromised in the pursuit of style. Then he said
with the tone was not one of anger, nor of sorrow, not even of contempt, but
there was in it something quiet that froze the blood.

“The tone was not one of anger, nor of sorrow, not even of contempt, but there
was in it something quiet that froze the blood. He put his hand down and
pressed a finger on the place where the left boot, endeavoring to be fashionable,
was not quite comfortable.
“Id 'urds you dere," he said. "Dose big virms 'ave no self-respect. Drash!”(Page
3, paragraph 3 + 4 bottom up)

This shows the disappointment and bitterness of a shoemaker's self-esteem and

humility when he saw customers having to wear uncomfortable shoes.

2. Passionate (and Hard Working)

For Mr. Gessler, boot - making is his passion and he is wholly dedicated to it.
He can go to any length to make boots for people. His passion for shoe making
is shown in the way he responded when the narrator asked him if his work of
shoemaking is awfully hard to do, he replied very proudly that it was an art.

“And his answer, given with a sudden smile from out of the sardonic redness of
his beard: "Id is an Ardt!"” (Page 1, line 5 bottom up) → This shows that he
appreciates art, he loves art, and he is always ready to dedicate to the art of
making boots.

So for Mr. Gessler, shoemaking is not merely a craft but a sublime art. He is
highly passionate about shoemaking as we can see the evidence that he
performed all the activities himself like working on leather, taking
measurements and stitching the shoes. While making the shoes, he remembered
the comfort and satisfaction of his customers. And when he had to leave his
work to attend to the customers, he appeared as if he had been awakened from
some dream of shoes or like an owl who felt surprised in daylight.

“Soon, over the top edge of that sort of well-- rather dark, and smelling
soothingly of leather--which formed the shop, there would be seen his face, or
that of his elder brother, peering down. A guttural sound, and the tip-tap of bast
slippers beating the narrow wooden stairs, and he would stand before one
without coat, a little bent, in leather apron, with sleeves turned back,
blinking--as if awakened from some dream of boots, or like an owl surprised in
daylight and annoyed at this interruption.” (Page 2, paragraph 4)

He also expressed his passion for shoe making through his act and his respect to
the leather in his hand as well as his boot products.

“Goot-morning!" he would reply, still looking at the leather in his hand. And as
I moved to the door, I would hear the tip-tap of his bast slippers restoring him,
up the stairs, to his dream of boots. But if it were some new kind of foot-gear
that he had not yet made me, then indeed he would observe ceremony--divesting
me of my boot and holding it long in his hand, looking at it with eyes at once
critical and loving, as if recalling the glow with which he had created it, and
rebuking the way in which one had disorganized this masterpiece. Then, placing
my foot on a piece of paper, he would two or three times tickle the outer edges
with a pencil and pass his nervous fingers over my toes, feeling himself into the
heart of my requirements.” (Page 2, paragraph 7)

Once Mr Gessler spoke out his mental pain, his struggle to compete against big
firms which spread their business with the help of advertisement. So Mr.
Gessler suffered a lot while his small business was crippled in front of the mall
business which was showy without quality. No matter how many difficulties,
the passionate artist neither gave up nor compromised with the quality of his
work.

Mr. Gessler's dedication to quality goes beyond just making a living. It's a
source of deep personal satisfaction. He takes pride in the legacy of his craft and
the knowledge that his boots will serve their owners well for years. This passion
fuels his meticulous attention to detail and his refusal to cut corners like other
big firms.

3. A Perfectionist in His Profession

He is a Master Craftsman. As we can see, Mr. Gessler is a skilled bootmaker
who takes immense pride in his work. He prioritized using the finest materials
and traditional techniques to create lasting and comfortable boots.

“Soon he would come back, holding in his thin, veined hand a piece of
gold-brown leather. With eyes fixed on it, he would remark: "What a beaudiful
biece!” (Page 2, Paragraph 6)

Mr. Gessler was so well - versed in his vocation that he could tell whether the
shoes were made by him or somebody else by simply looking at them. Once, the
narrator went to Gessler Brothers’ shop to place an order. That day the narrator
was wearing a pair of shoes that he bought from a large firm in an emergency.
Mr.Gessler could immediately recognise that those were not made by him. He
put his hand down and pressed a finger exactly on the place where the left shoe
was not comfortable. In spite of facing the hardships fallen in his way, he kept
on making efforts to maintain excellence in his work.

“Once (once only) I went absent-mindedly into his shop in a pair of boots
bought in an emergency at some large firm's. He took my order without showing
me any leather, and I could feel his eyes penetrating the inferior integument of
my foot. At last he said:

"Dose are nod my boods."” (Page 3, paragraph 5 bottom up)

4. Integrity and Honesty in His Work to Maintain Quality

Throughout the story, Mr. Gessler demonstrates integrity and honesty in his
interactions with customers. He is upfront about the time and effort required to
produce quality shoes and refuses to cut corners to reduce costs or increase
efficiency. Mr. Gessler's honesty and transparency distinguish him from other
shoemakers and highlight his commitment to providing value to his customers.
Mr. Gessler is a genius in his profession. He knows and loves the art of making
boots heartily. He always makes sure that he makes the best boots for every
client, and his boots last terribly for years. That is why he takes a pretty long
time making boots according to the specifications of his customers.

“I ordered several pairs. It was very long before they came--but they were better
than ever. One simply could not wear them out.” (Page 4, last paragraph)

He felt hurt if anybody complained about the shoes not fitting or hurting his
customer. Once the narrator went to the Gesslers’ shop and complained to him
that the last pair he had made for him creaked. Mr. Gessler at first was surprised
at this complaint and replied that the narrator might have got them wet
otherwise they would not have creaked. After that, he asked the narrator to send
that pair back to him and he would try to repair them if possible and if not he
would refund the money to him. Not only does this show dedication, but also
integrity because he is honest about his work and wants to satisfy his customer
to the utmost (with the best service) even at his personal financial loss.

“At that he lowered his eyes, as if hunting for memory of those boots, and I felt
sorry I had mentioned this grave thing.

"Zend dem back!" he said; "I will look at dem."

A feeling of compassion for my creaking boots surged up in me, so well could I

imagine the sorrowful long curiosity of regard which he would bend on them.

"Zome boods," he said slowly, "are bad from birdt. If I can do noding wid dem, I
dake dem off your bill." (Page 3, line 6 - 12)

In his last days of adversity, when he found his business on the verge of
drowning, he, instead of compromising the quality of shoes, tried to make the
best shoes with the same dedication and honesty without increasing the price of
his shoes.

“He looked long at my boots--a pair of Russia leather, and his face seemed to
regain steadiness. Putting his hand on my instep, he said:

"Do dey vid you here? I 'ad drouble wid dat bair, I remember."

"Do you wand any boods?" he said. "I can make dem quickly; id is a slack
dime."

I answered: "Please, please! I want boots all round--every kind!"

"I will make a vresh model. Your food must be bigger." And with utter slowness,
he traced round my foot, and felt my toes, only once looking up to say:

"Did I dell you my brudder was dead?"

To watch him was painful, so feeble had he grown; I was glad to get away.

I had given those boots up, when one evening they came. Opening the parcel, I
set the four pairs out in a row. Then one by one I tried them on. There was no
doubt about it. In shape and fit, in finish and quality of leather, they were the
best he had ever made me. And in the mouth of one of the town walking-boots I
found his bill. The amount was the same as usual, but it gave me quite a shock.
He had never before sent it in till quarter day. I flew downstairs, and wrote a
check, and posted it at once with my own hand.” (Page 5)

5. His Commitment to Excellence, His Enduring Hardships and His Tragic

End

His Commitment to Excellence:

It is true to all that Mr. Gessler devoted his entire life to making the best quality
shoes. He lived and died for quality.

“You see he went to work in such a way! Would keep the shop on; wouldn't have
a soul touch his boots except himself. When he got an order, it took him such a
time.” (Page 6, line 6)

“That may be a bit flowery, as the sayin' is--but I know myself he was sittin'
over his boots day and night, to the very last. You see I used to watch him. Never
gave 'imself time to eat; never had a penny in the house.” (Page 6, line 13)

He had to face tough competition from big firms which have machinery to
advertise their products. But he remained stubborn and resolute to practice the
craft by paying for it with his breath and blood. He never compromises on
quality and always uses the best quality leather.

“Soon he would come back, holding in his thin, veined hand a piece of
gold-brown leather. With eyes fixed on it, he would remark: "What a beaudiful
biece!” (Page 2, Paragraph 6)

What I mean here is that despite facing challenges and competition from larger,
more commercial businesses, Mr. Gessler remains dedicated to his craft and
refuses to compromise on quality. His commitment to excellence reflects his
strong work ethic and passion for shoemaking

“"Dey get id all," he said, "dey get id by adverdisement, nod by work. Dey dake
it away from us, who lofe our boods. Id gomes to this--bresently I haf no work.
Every year id gets less--you will see." And looking at his lined face I saw things
I had never noticed before, bitter things and bitter struggle--and what a lot of
gray hairs there seemed suddenly in his red beard!” (Page 3, paragraph 2
bottom up)
His dedication is also shown in the fact that he even used all the money he
earned to buy the highest quality leather to make beautiful and durable boots
while still keeping the same selling price.

“He never advertised! Would 'ave the best leather, too, and do it all 'imself.”
(Page 6, Line 10)

“Never gave 'imself time to eat; never had a penny in the house. All went in rent
and leather.” (Page 6, Line 14)

His Enduring Hardships:

Though his business is dwindling, he continued his struggle for existence

without giving in to the pressure of competition and advertisements. He was
forced by circumstances to give away a part of his shop.

“When at last I went I was surprised to find that outside one of the two little
windows of his shop another name was painted, also that of a
bootmaker--making, of course, for the Royal Family. The old familiar boots, no
longer in dignified isolation, were huddled in the single window. Inside, the now
contracted well of the one little shop was more scented and darker than ever.”
(Page 4, first paragraph)

"Yes," he said, "beople do nod wand good boods, id seems."

To get away from his reproachful eyes and voice I hastily remarked: "What have
you done to your shop?"

He answered quietly: "Id was too exbensif. Do you wand some boods?" (Page 4,
line 10 - 13)

His elder brother died because he could not get over the shock of losing one of
their shops. Mr. Gessler, despite losing his elder brother and part of their shop,
continued his business of shoemaking with the same commitment as earlier. His
endurance of hardship is also shown through the fact that he overcame the pain
of losing his brother to continue his shoe making business.

"Yes," he answered, "he was a good man, he made a good bood; but he is dead."
And he touched the top of his head, where the hair had suddenly gone as thin as
it had been on that of his poor brother, to indicate, I suppose, the cause of death.
"He could nod ged over losing de oder shop. Do you wand any boods?" And he
held up the leather in his hand: "Id's a beaudiful biece." (Page 4, paragraph 2
bottom up)

Despite facing financial difficulties and the threat of bankruptcy, Mr. Gessler
remains resilient and determined to persevere. He continues to work tirelessly in
his shop, relying on his skill and reputation to attract customers. Mr. Gessler's
resilience in the face of adversity underscores his unwavering dedication to his
craft and his refusal to compromise his principles for the sake of profitability.

→ Resilience and Determination

His Tragic End:

Mr. Gessler who commits himself to the art of making shoes, has to fade away
from this world of commercial materialism that takes a toll of sincere traders of
art pursuing it as the profession. In fact, he met a tragic end. He died of slow
starvation.

“"Yes, yes," I said; "but Mr. Gessler?"

"Oh!" he answered; "dead."

"Dead! But I only received these boots from him last Wednesday week."

"Ah!" he said; "a shockin' go. Poor old man starved 'imself."
"Good God!"

"Slow starvation, the doctor called it! You see he went to work in such a way!
Would keep the shop on; wouldn't have a soul touch his boots except himself.
When he got an order, it took him such a time. People won't wait. He lost
everybody. And there he'd sit, goin' on and on--I will say that for him--not a man
in London made a better boot! But look at the competition! He never advertised!
Would 'ave the best leather, too, and do it all 'imself. Well, there it is. What could
you expect with his ideas?"

"But starvation--!"

"That may be a bit flowery, as the sayin' is--but I know myself he was sittin' over
his boots day and night, to the very last. You see I used to watch him. Never
gave 'imself time to eat; never had a penny in the house. All went in rent and
leather. How he lived so long I don't know. He regular let his fire go out. He was
a character. But he made good boots."” (Page 6)

→ He devoted his whole life to the art of making boots, sacrificing everything
from his meals and time to sleep to spending most of his expense to buy the
finest leather. He didn’t think about his own interests and always prioritized his
customers, wanting to bring the best quality boots to his customers. However, in
the end, he ended his life tragically, the rest of the store was lost and he also
died of starvation.

6. Old-World Values

Mr. Gessler embodies the values of a bygone era. He prioritizes quality over
profit and personal satisfaction in his work over mass production. He speaks
with a heavy German accent, all in conformity with his German origin.

"Id is an Ardt!"
"Goot-morning!"

"Id shouldn'd 'ave greaked."

"You goddem wed before dey found demselves?"

"Zend dem back!" he said; "I will look at dem."

"Dose are nod my boods."

"Dey get id all," he said, "dey get id by adverdisement, nod by work. Dey dake it
away from us, who lofe our boods. Id gomes to this--bresently I haf no work.
Every year id gets less--you will see."

Mr. Gessler represents a fading ideal, especially a disappearing breed of

craftsmen. The narrator mentions the decline of cobblers and the rise of
mass-produced footwear. This creates a sense of nostalgia and highlights the
potential loss of valuable skills and traditions.

He is a man of few words. Mr. Gessler communicates more through his actions
than his words. He rarely boasts about his skills or the quality of his work.
Instead, he lets the boots speak for themselves. This adds to his mystique and
emphasizes the practical nature of his craft.

“Without a word he would leave me, retiring whence he came, or into the other
portion of the shop, and I would continue to rest in the wooden chair, inhaling
the incense of his trade.” (Page 2, paragraph 3 bottom up)

7. Rigid, fixed attitudes and work ethics

- He's unfazed by the changing market and the rise of mass-produced footwear

- He sticks to his principles and continues to create high-quality boots on his

own terms
→ Resolute and independent

- He sees the changing world and knows his way of life may not survive, but he
does not change or choose advertising to increase his popularity

→ His rigid, fixed attitudes and work ethics cost him his businesses slowly and
steadily, leading to poor health and starvation

8. Symbolism:

Not only Mr. Gessler embodies the values of a bygone era but he himself and
his shop also become symbols of that era where craftsmanship and quality
reigned supreme.

Mr. Gessler serves as a symbol of traditional craftsmanship and the human

touch in an increasingly mechanized and commercialized world.

His character represents the values of integrity, pride, and dedication that are
often overshadowed by modern conveniences and mass production.

He also represents the human cost of progress and the potential loss of tradition
in the face of rapid modernization.

Through Mr. Gessler, Galsworthy celebrates the timeless artistry of skilled

artisans and highlights the importance of preserving craftsmanship in the face of
technological advancement.

6.2. Mr.Gessler (Elder brother of Gessler): minor character - flat - static

- shoemaker - the older one in Gessler brothers

Role: minor character - flat – static

Profile: German - an extremely skilled and committed boot maker - the older
one in Gessler brothers - very passionate, perfectionist, hard working man,
consistent, love art, weird, and looks different from most people he stands for a
high degree of passion in his art of shoemaking in the world of advertisements
and publicity (both are the same not only physically but also the character).

Brief info: What's interesting about "Quality" is the fact that there is no specific
mention of Mr. Gessler’s elder brother in the text itself. But we can implicitly
recognize it through a few small details when the narrator describes the younger
Mr. Gessler.

Appearance (Physical Traits):

The story mentions Mr. Gessler's deceased brother who was also a good
bootmaker. They likely shared similar characteristics and appearances, which
could lead someone to mistakenly recognize who is him and who is the younger
after just a brief interaction. Assuming they were siblings, the older brother
might have shared Mr. Gessler's dedication to quality and craftsmanship. They
likely learned the trade together and held similar beliefs about the importance of
their work.

Evidence:

“His elder brother was so very like him--though watery, paler in every way,
with a great industry--that sometimes in early days I was not quite sure of him
until the interview was over. Then I knew that it was he, if the words, “I will
ask my brudder,” had not been spoken; and, that, if they had, it was his elder
brother.” (Page 2, first paragraph)

His influence on the story:

The death of the older brother could be a significant event for Mr. Gessler. It
might have solidified his resolve to continue their shoe shop and resist the
pressures to compromise on quality. Mr.Gessler’s elder brother dies because he
cannot get over the shock of losing one of their shops or the starvation also
another cause of his death. Just like his younger brother as we mentioned, his
death is a result of the loss of the traditional craftsmen in the competition with
the bigger firms in the industry and also a signal of the potential loss of original
art.

"I am breddy well," he said slowly; "but my elder brudder is dead."

"Yes," he answered, "he was a good man, he made a good bood; but he is dead."
And he touched the top of his head, where the hair had suddenly gone as thin as
it had been on that of his poor brother, to indicate, I suppose, the cause of death.
"He could nod ged over losing de oder shop. Do you wand any boods?" (Page 4,
second paragraph bottom up)

The cause of his death is unspecific in the narrative but through the detail that
the hair of the two brothers had gone so thin, we can comprehend that the elder
died because of not only shock of losing the shop but also poverty and
miserableness.

Conclusion: (Gessler brothers)

In general, as professional shoemakers, they has devoted his whole life to

bringing the best quality shoes for his customers. Mr Gessler is a serious, sober
person with no inclination towards being frivolous or humorous. They’re
perfectionists and gave only the best to their customers. They did not
compromise on quality and was unable to adjust with the changing times.
In spite of their popularity, the Gessler Brothers began to lose valued customers
as they didn’t keep up with the changing demands and trends. Their rigid, fixed
attitudes and work ethics see them lose business gradually and steadily,
resulting in their broken health and starvation. Towards the end of their lives,
Mr Gessler and his brother begin to look upon the big firms as the enemy that
would ultimately take away all their business.

That's why we sympathize even more with Mr Gessler and his misfortune and
tragic end. If only he and his brother had welcomed the technology and
accommodated new people while teaching them shoemaking skills, their
business would have improved and their lives would no longer be so tragic like
that.

And next let’s move to another very important character in this story, the
narrator.

6.3. The Narrator: main character - round - dynamic - loyal customer

Role: main character - round - dynamic

Profile: a loyal customer and fan of Mr Gessler’s shoemaking shop - he knows

all about the Gessler brothers - almost all part of the story in the narrator’s point
of view

Brief info: The narrator is not disclosed by name, but it is inferred that he is
male. The narrator is a very loyal customer and fan of Mr Gessler’s
shoemaking. The narrator very often visited his shop to place orders for boots.
He took frequent trips to the shoe store, and purchased more than necessary –
thus, indicating his wealth and love for fashion. He became a little attached to
the brothers and became quick friends with them, especially his deep bonding
with Mr Gessler (Younger brother). By the end of the story, he was taken aback
that the brothers’ shop had closed and stated that they made the finest shoes
he’d ever bought. The story is seen through the narrator’s action and the
narrator’s point of view. The narrator told us what was going on in the life of Mr
Gessler…

Appearance (Physical Traits):

No mention

Characterisation:

1. A Quality - Conscious Man:

The Gessler Brothers were known to the narrator from his father's time. His
father wore the shoes made by the Gessler Brothers. His father loved the quality
of their shoes. So the narrator knew them as those who were wholly committed
to the quality of the shoes. As his father showed great fondness of the shoes of
the Gessler Brothers, he was also gradually inclined to their shoes.

“I knew him from the days of my extreme youth, because he made my father's
boots; inhabiting with his elder brother two little shops let into one, in a small
by-street--now no more, but then most fashionably placed in the West End.”
(Page 1, first paragraph)

He always got his shoes tailor - made by the Gessler Brothers. In the beginning,
the narrator was suspicious about the display of a few pairs of boots in the
window. He thought that the Gessler Brothers had bought the shoes from
outside for the display. But, later on, his suspicion had gone when he came to
know about the reality of the Gessler Brothers. Once in Emergency, the narrator
had to buy a pair of shoes from a big firm. The shoes were attractive in their
look but they were not comfortable to him. Mr. Gessler put his hand down and
pressed a finger exactly on the place where the left shoe was not comfortable.
He also came to know that the Gessler Brothers were wholly committed to the
quality and that they did all the work with their hands from working on the
leather, taking measurements, designing and finalizing the shoes as per the
demands of each and every customer . They never compromised the quality and
always used the best quality leather.

→ That is also a reason which makes the narrator show more respect to them
and visits the Gessler Brothers’ shop frequently.

“He would never have tolerated in his house leather on which he had not
worked himself. Besides, they were too beautiful--the pair of pumps, so
inexpressibly slim, the patent leathers with cloth tops, making water come into
one's mouth, the tall brown riding boots with marvelous sooty glow, as if,
though new, they had been worn a hundred years. Those pairs could only have
been made by one who saw before him the Soul of Boot--so truly were they
prototypes incarnating the very spirit of all foot-gear.” (Page 1, paragraph 2)

→ The narrator's thoughts and comments show that he is someone who

appreciates the quality of the products he buys and is aware of the Gessler
brothers’ dedication to their shoes making.

2. Appreciate the Art, Beauty and Quality of the Shoes:

The narrator had great appreciation or admiration for the true art and the artists.
It has been indicated by the fact that he visited the Gessler Brothers’ shop a
number of times as he appreciated the beauty and quality of shoes made by
them. He seemed to be awestruck by the beauty of the shoes made by them to
such an extent that he described them as “too beautiful”; “making water come
into one's mouth”. (Page 1, Paragraph 2) He admired Gessler Brothers “art of
shoemaking as incarnating the very spirit of all foot - gear”. He felt that such
beautiful shoes could only be made by the artists, who had seen the very soul of
the shoes and who even seemed to “dream of boots”.

“He would never have tolerated in his house leather on which he had not
worked himself. Besides, they were too beautiful--the pair of pumps, so
inexpressibly slim, the patent leathers with cloth tops, making water come into
one's mouth, the tall brown riding boots with marvelous sooty glow, as if,
though new, they had been worn a hundred years. Those pairs could only have
been made by one who saw before him the Soul of Boot--so truly were they
prototypes incarnating the very spirit of all foot-gear.” (Page 1, paragraph 2)

The narrator found the Gessler Brothers different from the other shoemakers.
Visiting Gessler Brothers’ shop, to him, looked like entering a church as
boot-making was pursued by them religiously with honesty and integrity.
Moreover, the atmosphere of their shop was very peaceful. Hence, it was the
narrator's inclination to their art of shoemaking which forced the narrator to visit
them again and again and order more than his need.

“One went in, not as into most shops, in the mood of: "Please serve me, and let
me go!" but restfully, as one enters a church; and, sitting on the single wooden
chair, waited--for there was never anybody there. Soon, over the top edge of that
sort of well-- rather dark, and smelling soothingly of leather--which formed the
shop, there would be seen his face, or that of his elder brother, peering down.”
(Page 2, paragraph 4)

3. Generous, Kind and Sympathetic:

Because of being associated with the Gessler Brothers for a long time, the
narrator was greatly pained by the pitiable state of the Gessler Brothers. The
narrator came to know of their pathetic state only when Mr. Gessler once spoke
bitterly about the hardships of his trade. Mr. Gessler was annoyed at the
commercial approach of the big firms. He railed against their advertising, sales
promotion and everything else they did to entice the buyer at the cost of quality.
Such derisive comments seldom came to Gessler. Displeasure and annoyance
were palpable in his face, wrinkled by years of toil in his trade. The narrator was
moved by the commitment and dedication of Gessler to his trade. He felt bad
that he had some time back complaining about the boots he had bought from
Mr.Gessler. To make amends for any feelings of hurt he might have caused to
this commitment artist, the narrator ordered quite a few pairs of shoes.

“As best I could, I explained the circumstances of the purchase of those

ill-omened boots. But his face and voice made so deep impression that during
the next few minutes I ordered many pairs. Nemesis fell! They lasted more
terribly than ever. And I was not able conscientiously to go to him for nearly
two years.” (Page 3, last paragraph)

When the narrator went there after the lapse of two years, the narrator was
surprised to see that one of the two windows of the old shop bore a signboard. It
became clear to the narrator that another business had started operating from the
premises. It soon emerged that Gessler had rented out a part of the shop to
curtail costs. The narrator ordered three pairs though he wanted only two and
left the place quickly, maybe it was because he felt partly to blame for causing
Mr.Gessler to sell part of the store, or perhaps he was against Mr.Gessler’s idea
of making shoes when he bought a bad pair of boots last time.

“I ordered three pairs, though I had only wanted two, and quickly left. I had, I
do not know quite what feeling of being part, in his mind, of a conspiracy
against him; or not perhaps so much against him as against his idea of boot.”
(Page 4, paragraph 2)

The narrator had developed a sentimental bonding with Gessler's shop that
made him return there again and again. When, after many months, the narrator
again visited the Gessler Brothers, he got the shocking news of Elder Gessler's
death. The narrator showed sympathy for Mr. Gessler by placing an order for
several pairs and went abroad.

“I ordered several pairs. It was very long before they came--but they were better
than ever. One simply could not wear them out. And soon after that I went
abroad.” (Page 4, last paragraph)

When he returned from abroad, he again went to the Gessler Brothers. This time
Mr. Gessler seemed to the narrator as a seventy-five-year-old man though he
was just over sixty. His business too had been all time slacker. The narrator had
empathy for Mr. Gessler and tried to help him by ordering all kinds of shoes on
his next visit, although he had doubts whether Mr. Gessler would be able to
deliver his order. But this time, surprisingly, the boots were delivered faster than
usual, with the best quality ever and the price is still the same. On getting the
shoes, the narrator immediately sent a cheque to pay for the order.

“I answered: "Please, please! I want boots all round--every kind!"” ( Page 5,

line 11)

“I had given those boots up, when one evening they came. Opening the parcel, I
set the four pairs out in a row. Then one by one I tried them on. There was no
doubt about it. In shape and fit, in finish and quality of leather, they were the
best he had ever made me. And in the mouth of one of the town walking-boots I
found his bill. The amount was the same as usual, but it gave me quite a shock.
He had never before sent it in till quarter day. I flew downstairs, and wrote a
check, and posted it at once with my own hand.” (Page 5, line 16)

A week later, when the narrator comes to know about Mr. Gessler's death, he
feels extremely sorrowful.
"Dead! But I only received these boots from him last Wednesday week." (Page 6,
line 3)

"Yes," I said, "he made good boots." (Page 6, line 2 bottom up)

“And I turned and went out quickly, for I did not want that youth to know that I
could hardly see.” (Page 6, last sentence)

4. Symbolism:

The narrator can be seen as a symbol of the modern consumer who prioritizes
convenience and affordability over quality and craftsmanship. His initial
resistance to Mr. Gessler's approach reflects the potential loss of appreciation
for traditional skills in a rapidly changing world. However, he later changed his
view and appreciated the quality values that Mr. Gessler brought. This shows
that a part of consumers will value quick convenience and follow fashion trends
but less comfort. Another group of consumers will appreciate products that are
meticulously made by people, so the waiting time is long but the quality is high.

The story can be seen as the narrator's journey towards a greater understanding
of quality and craftsmanship. While he may not fully embrace Mr. Gessler's way
of life, his newfound appreciation suggests a potential shift in his consumer
values.

The narrator's ending thoughts leave room for interpretation. Does his
appreciation for Mr. Gessler's work represent a genuine change, or is it simply a
recognition of exceptional quality in a rare instance? This ambiguity allows the
reader to reflect on their own consumer habits and the value they place on
quality and craftsmanship.

The narrator in "Quality" can be seen as a reflection of a society grappling with

the impact of industrialization and mass production. His story raises questions
about the importance of tradition, the value of skilled labor, and the role of the
consumer in shaping the future of craftsmanship.

6.4. The Englishman: minor character - flat - static - new owner of

Mr.Gessler’s shop

Role: minor character - flat - static

Profile: new owner of Mr.Gessler’s shop

Brief info:

“I went in, very much disturbed. In the two little shops--again made into
one--was a young man with an English face.” (Page 5, line 6 bottom up)

On his last visit to Mr Gessler to thank him for the splendid boots he made, the
narrator was shocked to see an Englishman had taken over the shop. He
informed the narrator about the death of Mr.Gesssler due to starvation. The
tragedy is risen by the fact that even the Englishman agreed that he (Mr Gessler)
made the best boots in London.

“And there he'd sit, goin' on and on--I will say that for him--not a man in
London made a better boot!” (Page 6)

“He regular let his fire go out. He was a character. But he made good boots.”
(Page 6)

This acknowledgement was the tribute to Mr Gessler and his art.

6. Point of view
Hi everyone, my name is… Now It’s my turn to introduce you Point of view of
this story. After reading, in your opinion, what is the point of view of this story?
Ok thank you for all your answers. Now we discover.
+ In the excerpt from "Quality" by John Galsworthy, the literary point of
view is first person. The narrator is not disclosed by name as well as his
age, but it is inferred that he is male. The narrator is a very loyal customer
and fan of Mr Gessler’s shoemaking. Therefore, when using first person
to tell the story, the author wants readers to transform into the role of that
customer. Imagine that you buy something whose quality is really good
and you will feel more clearly the role of the narrator when he buys
high-quality boots made by a bootmaker who cares about his profession.
Not only that, the first person narrative also helps to provide a realistic
picture of the struggle faced by the handicraft industry and the artisans
during the Industrial Revolution by referring to the actual encounter
between the narrator and the artisan (Gessler Brothers)
+ Using first person narratives, The narrator shares personal thoughts and
feelings, indicating that he is part of the story rather than simply an
observer. → This way takes the readers along the flow of the story from a
perspective that helps them immerse themselves in the story like the
reader themselves is the narrator, causing the reader to have thoughts and
feelings of sympathy for Mr Gessler. Through Narrator’s pov, readers can
easily accept and understand more deeply the difficult life of Gessler
Brothers according to what the narrator experienced, seen, felt, and heard.
Two parts that clearly show this point of view are when the narrator
expresses personal thoughts about the puzzling sight of the boots in the
window, and later, the narrator's reflection on the dignity of the
shoemaker and the importance of the trade. These introspective thoughts
suggest a personal connection and a level of intimacy with the subject
matter that is characteristic of a first-person narrative. Additionally, the
use of 'I' and 'me' throughout the text is a clear indication of a first-person
perspective. Examples such as 'I remember' and 'seemed to me then, and
still seems to me,' confirm the narrator's personal involvement and a
viewpoint keyed to one individual's observations and feelings toward the
characters and events being described.
+ If the author uses the second or third person, the perspective seems too
objective, unable to bring out the emotions the author wants to convey to
readers. This can limit point of view, limit omniscience.
7. Themes (Như)
And Next, we will move to the Theme of the story. The first one is
COMMITMENT.

● Commitment to one's work. Every worker is an artist if he loves his

work and is immersed in it.

The overarching theme of Quality is a commitment to his work and

quality.

+ For the entire duration of the story Mr Gessler spends all his time
in his shoe shop. At no stage does the author take Mr Gessler from
the shop. This may be important as the author may be using the
setting of the story to highlight the commitment that Mr Gessler
has when it comes to making boots. We can see this commitment
through some details from the story:
- First, Dedication, commitment of the Gessler Brothers can
be seen through the imagery of a dream and an owl who
works throughout the night: Can you help me to read the
evidence? “...as if awakened from some dream of boots, or
like an owl surprised in daylight and annoyed at this
interruption.”
- Gessler Brothers’ traditional working style has been shown
through the ambience of their shop and their attitude towards
their work: This is the evidence → Going to Gessler
Brothers, the narrator seemed to him like going into a
church. The atmosphere of their shop was very peaceful and
 filled with the smell of leather which painted his shop with
the color of vintage and traditional style.
- The author has employed apt imagery to depict the
appearance of the Gessler Brothers and their attributes as
traditional, slow and quality - conscious artists. The author
has compared Mr. Gessler with leather to define both the
artist and his art. Show the evidence. He has a deep, guttural,
monotonous voice with a strong German accent. He has
been characterized as a piece of leather, implying that while
he is firm like leather, he is also "slow of purpose," or slowly
carrying out his duties.

+ It might also be important that Mr Gessler, despite the loss of his

brother, continues to work. “He was a good man, he made a good
bood; but he is dead." And he touched the top of his head, where
the hair had suddenly gone as thin as it had been on that of his
poor brother, to indicate, I suppose, the cause of death. "He
could nod ged over losing de oder shop. Do you wand any
boods?" And he held up the leather in his hand: "Id's a
beaudiful biece.”. After he tells about his brother’s death and its
reasons, he immediately continues to work by asking the narrator
whether or not he wants any new boots and gives a compliment to
a leather. Perhaps he is not insensitive but it is as if the most
important thing in Mr Gessler’s life is to make boots that are
comfortable and long lasting for people. Mr Gessler does not
appear to mourn the loss of his brother which may leave some
readers to suggest that not only is Mr Gessler committed to his
work but he is also driven.
+ His commitment to his work is also shown through the
acknowledgement of the young man. The young man considered
that Mr Gessler was so committed to his job that he even went as
far as forgetting to eat. “Never gave 'imself time to eat; never had
a penny in the house.” Mr Gessler’s all his energies to his work
just as an artist would. He also strives to make the best boots
possible just as an artist would attempt to make the best piece of art
that they could.

+ Commitment about Quality: When the narrator tells Mr Gessler

about the pair of boots that creaked, he makes every effort to
rectify the matter. This would suggest that not only is Mr Gessler
looking after his customers but that he is honest too. “Quality is the
most valuable” Mr Gessler was very disciplined, once he heard the
request from his customer. He would finish the boots as soon as he
could, he would make the boots with the authentic materials. It
means that he wanted to give priority to the quality of the boots he
made.

+ One of the massive pitfalls of mass production was a downgrade in

quality. Big companies produce products in bulk with no regard for
the unique requirements of each client. To compensate for this loss
of quality and win clients, they practiced aggressive marketing and
advertising to succeed in the capitalist game of consumerism.
“Dose big virm ‘ave no self-respect. Drash”, “Dey get id all, dey
 get id by advertisement, nod by work.” Mr. Gessler stood out in
this world controlled by consumerism by staying true to his art and
through sheer dedication to his craftsmanship. He refused to let
anybody other than his brother make boots for his company. “You
see he went to work in such a way! Would keep the shop on;
wouldn’t have a soul touch his boots except himself. When he got
an order, it took him such a time. People don’t wait. He lost
everybody” .And each boot that left his store was unmatched in
quality, for it was the product of hard manual labor instead of blind
mechanization. This commitment to quality caused Mr. Gessler
made huge losses, but he bore them with dignity because producing
high-quality boots was the biggest priority of his life as an artist.
He refused to stoop so low as to partake in the mad advertising
game, for he believed that a product’s quality was the prime
concern of any trade. “And there he’d sit, goin’ on and on - I will
say that for him - not a man in London made a better boot! But
look at the competition! He never advertised!” In the end, we see
that this commitment to quality ultimately drains the life out of an
old Mr. Gessler, who could not make ends meet. However, he is the
real hero in the reader’s heart, for he stood true to his principles.

● Competition between small businesses and big firms.

The story highlights the decline of handicrafts and cottage industry due to
stiff competition from big firms in the backdrop of the Industrial
Revolution in England in the 20th century. The story shows that the big
trading companies increase their trade and push the small traders back by
advertisement, not by quality of work. They (the big companies) bring
 out cheap showy things on a large scale and succeed in driving the better
and more durable products out of the market. The author has presented in
this story the moving human tragedy resulting from the cut - throat
business competition of today. “... outside one of two little windows of
his shop another name was painted, also that of a bootmaker - making
for the Royal Family. The old familiar boots, no longer in dignified
isolation, were huddled in the single window. Inside, the now contracted
well of the one little shop was more scented and darker than ever” In
the story, Mr. Gessler not only maintains the quality of his boots but also
improves them to the best of his ability. He spends all that he earns on
buying the leather of best quality and makes artistic boots but never
increases their price. The competition is so tough that there is no chance
of increasing prices. The result is that he has to starve himself to death.

Central to the narrative is the juxtaposition of traditional craftsmanship with

the rise of industrialization. Gessler embodies the falling art of artisanal
craftsmanship, characterized by meticulous attention to detail and pride in
one's work. In contrast, the emerging industrial era prioritizes efficiency and
mass production, often at the expense of quality. Galsworthy highlights the
tensions between tradition and progress, urging readers to contemplate the
value of preserving time-honored skills in the face of technological
advancement.

● Integrity: The tragedy of the Gessler brother signifies that human values
are threatened by material gain.

The other themes are dedication and integrity.

+ His integrity shines through in instances when he offered a full

refund for worn boots that had creaked. “Zome boods are bad
from birdt. If I can do noding wid dem, I dake dem off your
 bill.” Although when hearing the narrator’s complaint about the
poor condition of boots, Mr Gessler has a little frustration and
denies its condition at first “Id should’d ‘ave greaked.” Then he
tries to remember about those boots and asks the narrator to send
them back to him to look at.

+ Mr. Gessler was dedicated to his craftsmanship till his very last
days. He did nothing other than make boots, not even setting aside
time to eat and attend to himself. He was just sitting and making
boots whenever it was day or night. He did not let himself have any
time to eat or relax. He spends all of his earnings on the best
leather in order to create elegant and long-lasting boots at the same
retail cost. “...he was sittin’ over his boots day and night, to the
very last…Never gave ‘imself time to eat; never had a penny in
the house. All went in rent and leather.”

+ Despite facing adversity and financial hardship, he refused to

compromise on the quality of his shoes, demonstrating the
importance of maintaining one’s principles and standard. Despite
the fact that his business is dwindling, he continued his struggle for
existence without giving in to the pressure of competition and
advertisements. He is forced by circumstances to give away a part
of his shop. “Two little windows of his shop, another name was
painted, also that of a bootmaker--making, of course, for the
Royal Family. Inside, the now contracted well of the one little
shop was more scented and darker than ever.” “But look at the
competition. He never advertised” His refusal to advertise his
 products in a world thriving on marketing also bears testimony to
his integrity, for Mr. Gessler was a true artist and not a sell-out.

8. Figurative languages (Phi)

8.1 Metaphor
● Definition: a figure of speech which makes a direct comparison of two
unlike things without using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’.
● Artistic effect: create vivid descriptions or imagery, helping readers
visualize things being described.
● Evidence:
- Those pairs could only have been made by one who saw before him the
Soul of Boot—so truly were they prototypes incarnating the very spirit of
all foot-gear.
⇒ Content effect: The author uses this metaphor to describe the essence of a
perfect boot, suggesting that Gessler did not just craft footwear, but captured the
ideal spirit of boots themselves. This metaphor creates a sense of admiration for
the craftsmanship and artists involved in creating the boots, elevating them to a
higher status beyond material objects.

- A guttural sound, and the tip-tap of bast slippers beating the narrow
wooden stairs, and he would stand before one without coat, a little bent,
in leather apron, with sleeves turned back, blinking—as if awakened from
some dream of boots, or like an owl surprised in daylight and annoyed at
this interruption.
⇒ Content effect: This metaphor portrays Gessler's constant preoccupation
with his craft. [We could see that] this comparison emphasizes the character's
passion and commitment to his profession, highlighting the depth of his
involvement and investment in the art of bootmaking.
8.2 Simile
● Definition: a figure of speech that makes a direct comparison, using the
words ‘like’ or ‘as’.
● Artistic effect: create vivid descriptions or imagery, helping readers
visualize things being described.
● Evidence:
- One went in, not as into most shops, in the mood of: “Please serve me,
and let me go!” but restfully, as one enters a church; and, sitting on the
single wooden chair, waited—for there was never anybody there.
⇒ Content effect: So we could see that by comparing going to The Gesslers’
shop as entering a church, the readers can feel a sense of tranquility or purity in
the shop. Furthermore, we can see a contrast between the typical atmosphere of
a normal shop and the unique ambiance of this particular shop.

8.3 Hyperbole
● Definition: a figure of speech in which the truth is exaggerated or
overstated.
● Artistic effect: create emphasis, emotional, humorous effect.
● Evidence: ‘Besides, they were too beautiful—the pair of pumps, so
inexpressibly slim, the patent leathers with cloth tops, making water come
into one’s mouth, the tall brown riding boots with marvellous sooty glow,
as if, though new, they had been worn a hundred years.’
⇒ Content effect: This hyperbolic statement exaggerates the appearance of the
tall brown riding boots, suggesting that despite being new, they have the worn
and weathered look of boots that have been used for a long time. This
exaggeration emphasizes the durability and timeless quality of the boots.

8.4 Personification
 ● Definition: a figure of speech in which objects and animals have human
qualities.
● Artistic effect: create vivid descriptions or imagery, helping readers
visualize things being described.
● Evidence: I cannot forget that day on which I had occasion to say to him:
“Mr. Gessler, that last pair of town walking-boots creaked, you know.”
He looked at me for a time without replying, as if expecting me to
withdraw or qualify the statement, then said: “Id shouldn’d ’a’ve
greaked.” “It did, I’m afraid.”
⇒ Content effect: The verb ‘creak’ here means that something makes a long
low sound when it moves or is moved. The personification in this passage
serves to enrich the narrative, helping readers visualize the interaction between
the character and the boots.

8.5 Parallelism
● Definition: a repetition of the same pattern of words or phrases within a
sentence or passage to highlight the importance of those ideas.
● Artistic effect: create a satisfying rhythm in the language an author uses,
emphasizing the articulation (expressions).
● Evidence:
- ….“he was a good man, he made a good bood; but he is dead.”... “He
could nod ged over losing de oder shop.”
⇒ Content effect: The repetition of the phrase “he was a good man, he made a
good boot, but he is dead,...” illustrates the contrast between the character's
identity and skill and the reality of the marketing industrialization. “He could
nod ged over losing de oder shop” - This sentence conveys a sense of loss,
highlighting the character's struggles and the impact of external factors on their
livelihood.
 - “Dey get id all,” “dey get id by adverdisement, nod by work. Dey dake it
away from us, who lofe our boods.
⇒ Content effect: This parallelism draws attention to the disparity between
those who achieve success through hard work and dedication versus those who
rely on advertising and marketing tactics.
[The use of parallelism in these passages not only creates a rhythm in the
language, but also emphasizes the key themes and contrasts in the story]
[By repeating similar patterns of words and phrases, the author effectively
highlights the importance of certain ideas and the overall impact of the
narrative.]

8.6 Climax
● Definition: the arrangement of ideas in an increasing order of their
importance.
● Artistic effect: create a satisfying rhythm in the language an author uses,
emphasizing the articulation (expressions).
● Evidence:
- “Slow starvation, the doctor called it! You see he went to work in such a
way! Would keep the shop on; wouldn’t have a soul touch his boots except
himself. When he got an order, it took him such a time.
- People won’t wait. He lost everybody. And there he’d sit, goin’ on and
on—I will say that for him—not a man in London made a better boot!
- But look at the competition! He never advertised! Would ’a’ve the best
leather, too, and do it all ‘imself.
⇒ Content effect: Starting with the mention of "slow starvation," the author
indicates a problem faced by the character. Continuing reading, [the reader can
feel] the ‘tension’ increasing (increases) with each revelation about the
character's actions. The insistence on doing everything himself, from keeping
the shop open to making the boots, demonstrates his struggles and alienates
potential customers. The climatic moment occurs with the realization that
despite the characters’ dedication and skill in making boots, he is unable to
compete with others in the market.

[From Parallelism & Climax, we could see how the rhythm in the language
can push the emotions of readers, helping readers to better understand the
emotions or the consciousness of the characters.]

8.7 Symbolism
● Definition: the use of one object to suggest another, hidden object or idea.
● Artistic effect: act as a visual aid for readers to better understand the
complex ideas of concepts.
● Evidence:
The first image of symbolism is The Gesslers’ boots. [In particular, they are
obviously high-quality boots with the best leather.]
⇒ Content effect: This image represents the intrinsic value of human nature
(the supreme quality of character) and also the talent of the artists who make
them.

The second image of symbolism is The Gesslers’ shops.

⇒ Content effect: It stands for small businesses in the Industrial Revolution in
England in the 20th century. They are enthusiastic business owners, however,
they face up to difficulties when competing with large firms. [So we could
understand that there were a lot of businesses that would end up closing during
that time].

The third image of symbolism is The Gessler brothers.

⇒ Content effect: They represent talented artists who always want to devote
themself to the sake of customers and society. However, they are put in a
tragedy in which people seem to care more about the “outlook”, not the
“quality”. By portraying their image, the author signifies the reality of modern
society: material gain may defeat intrinsic values.

The fourth image of symbolism is The Gesslers’ language.

“Id is an Ardt” - “I will ask my brudder”
⇒ Content effect: How the Gesslers - as foreigners, struggle to integrate
themselves into the local community and into the marketing industrialization.

8.8 Onomatopoeia
● Definition: an imitation of natural sounds by words.
● Artistic effect: create mental pictures that appeal to readers, making
readers imagine how things sound.
● Evidence:
- “A guttural sound, and the tip-tap of bast slippers beating the narrow
wooden stairs, and he would stand before one without coat, a little bent,
in leather apron, with sleeves turned back, blinking—as if ….
- “And as I moved to the door, I would hear the tip-tap of his bast slippers
restoring him, up the stairs, to his dream of boots.”
⇒ Content effect: The auditory imagery transports the reader into the scene,
letting them to imagine the rhythmic sound of the slippers as the character
moves about his environment. [So not only can we see pictures in our
imagination through the descriptions, the author also creates some sounds to
make the story more exciting.] The onomatopoeic language creates a sensory
experience for the reader and also contributes to the development of character
and atmosphere.

8.9 Imagery
 ● Definition: the use of words to represent things, actions, and ideas by
sensory descriptions.
● Artistic effect: create mental pictures that appeal to readers, making
readers imagine how things look, feel, smell, sound and taste.
● Evidence:
- Himself, he was a little as if made from leather, with his yellow crinkly
face, and crinkly reddish hair and beard, and neat folds slanting down his
checks to the corners of his mouth, and his guttural and one-toned voice;
for leather is a sardonic substance, and stiff and slow of purpose.
⇒ Content effect: This imagery paints a vivid picture of the character's
appearance, comparing him to leather to demonstrate resilience, durability,
toughness. [Leather is often associated with strength and resilience, implying
that the character has gone through numerous challenges and hardships in life.]
This expression enriches the readers’ understanding of the appearance, and also
the character of Mr Gessler.

- ….And looking at his lined face I saw things I had never noticed before,
bitter things and bitter struggle—and what a lot of gray hairs there
seemed suddenly in his red beard!
⇒ Content effect: The imagery of the character's lined face and gray hairs
conveys a sense of hardship and bitterness in his past. These details add depth to
the character, revealing hidden struggles and challenges. [This imagery
enhances the emotional impact of the story, readers will have a feeling that they
have a strong connection with characters].

9. Students’ responses (Nhi)

● Like:
 After reading the short story Quality I was really impressed by the
commitment of the Gessler.
Exhausted, bitter, and miserable is the way that many people feel when they
wake up in the morning to get ready for work. Even the thought of work puts
some people in a bad mood. Others may not mind work but still have no desire
to go. It is rare to find someone who is completely satisfied with their career.
However, for one man, work is bliss. In “Quality” by Galsworthy, Gessler, the
shoemaker, is shown to be a man of integrity and of complete dedication to his
work. His dedication is shown through the fact that:
+ “He made only what was ordered, never taking ready-made shoes
down from the shelf.” (“Quality” pg. 213.) He wanted each pair of
boots to be a custom fit to each individual and for every pair he
made, he used a pattern taken from the customer’s foot size.
+ Later in the story, the reader can find out that Mr. Gessler is forced
to sacrifice half of his shop to a big business. This did not faze him,
and he continued to make his boots for the same price and with the
same amount of hard work. He must be truly dedicated in order to
love his business unconditionally.
● Dislike:
- From my perspective, The Geissler were a little bit conservative when
they did not want to change their perception with the flow of the
customers’ change. However, in business, They must:
+ Keep abreast the needs of the market and customers. Consumers
are important to organizations and brands. Customers are, first and
foremost, the lifeblood of every company; without them, there
would be no business. Businesses must make every effort to attract
and retain customers because they are the source of the income
needed to survive and expand. In the Industrial Revolution, people
attached great importance to advertising, but the two businessmen
 believed in quality, not in advertisement. They claimed that it was
the quality of their product that made the customers like the
narrator constantly come to their shop and made them order more
than their requirements. He made the best quality shoes in all of
London but his shop did not have any sign upon its face -" there
was no sign upon its face that he made for any of the Royal Family
- merely his own German name of ' Gessler Brothers' ; and in the
window a few pairs of boots. " However, advertising is not bad at
all.
=> They ignored the customers’ needs and still kept a conservative
viewpoint in their mind. They didn’t care about the actual needs of
their customers, and they lost.
+ Balance the factors of price, quality and uniqueness. If they pay too
much attention to one factor, the risk will greatly increase. It is
undeniable that the Gessler Brothers were artists in the true sense
of the world. They were truly proud of their shoemaking and
respected their profession. They were skilled workers who earned
their livelihood with the sweat of their brow. They worked day and
night and endured all difficulties to meet their customers’
expectations. However, although they were highly skilled and
passionate about their profession, they did not not have a business
mind. “Mr. Gessler was very disciplined. He was quick but spent
enormous time making his boots. He made the boots with the
authentic materials, giving maximum priority to the quality of the
boots he made. He did not care about the price of materials. If the
customers felt satisfied with the shoes that he made, he would be
satisfied too. (John, Bijiu: 2)”
 => As business owners, the Gessler Brothers excessively focused
on the quality and commitment but for the price, which was also a
principal factor for their career.
+ Besides, although they loved their profession unconditionally, this
was a business where people depended on it to make ends meet, the
major aim when they run a business or a shop. But when the
Brothers must choose one of two difficult alternatives or choices:
to give up their ideal to face the competition, or to stick to it, even
though this means encountering any consequences. They stick to
their latter choice "making boots as an art during a time in which
the world around [them] is increasingly shaped by the buying and
selling of commodities. Mr. Gessler refuses to give into modern
business practices … [His] approach is minimalist in nature"
(Martyweis: 1).
=> They triumphed with their hobby, their love of being a true artist, but in
business, they were a bit conservative and refused to adapt to the change of the
market. This caused them to fail in their approach.

● Relating societal issues:

1. Quality and consumerism?
- Quality by John Galsworthy brings a very important message for
readers, because it shows the war between quality and
consumerism, in which quality is losing.
- The industrial revolution brought mass production, where the
competitors were producing large quantities of low-quality
products and stealing all the clients through advertisements. This is
a direct attack on craftsmen like Mr. Gessler, who were artists of
their trade.
 - Although he was one of the best bootmakers of this time, Mr.
Gessler was forced into poverty and suffered heavy losses.
- The failure of Mr. Gessler is the failure of commitment to quality.
His downfall is a testament to the downfall of humanity, as
consumerism has created a world where honest artists will starve
unless they adapt themselves to the shallowness of advertising.
- And in the case of Mr. Gessler, the unholy union of consumerism
and advertising won, and his craftsmanship and dedication to his
business failed.
2. Success is determined not by excellence but by advertisement
=> The artist and his art choke in a highly commercialized world, where
success is determined not by excellence but by advertisement
The Gessler brothers were artists in the true sense of the world.
+ They had qualities of dedication, honesty, hard work and sincerity.
+ Mr Gessler valued his customers highly and tried his best to satisfy
them with his work of quality and durable material of boots he
made on order.
+ He lived from hand to mouth but he never compromised with the
quality of leather that lasted longer and provided comfort to the
wearer.
But they are not worldly wise. They were traditional and orthodox in their
approach. Little do they realize that quality or excellence have no value in the
fast-paced world of consumerism. In the modern world mass production of
cheap quality goods is a trick, and advertising is a means to deceive the
customers. It is not surprising that in the age of growing materialism and trendy
fashions 'quality' has been pushed to the background. Big manufacturing units
are now in operation and they remain busy day and night one product is made
jointly by a number of workers. Gone is the age of a worker making the whole
product himself. Moreover the producers are in intense competition.They spend
a lot on advertisements to sell their products. In this kind of atmosphere the
Gessler brothers hardly fit in. Gradually their art gets choked and quite
miserably, they die one after the other.
3. From hobby to profession:
- It is desirable and pleasurable if a person can turn his hobby into a
profession.
- But it is not always possible due to several factors:
+ Sometimes a hobby is too expensive to turn into a profession.
+ Sometimes the profession made out of a hobby may not be
economically viable.
- But when a hobby is turned into a profession it is surely to provide
endless happiness and satisfaction.
- The Gessler Brothers in the story 'Quality' seem to have made their hobby
of making quality shoes a profession.
- They are not just shoe makers; they are rather artists who take meticulous
care in the making of their product from start to finish.
- It is important for them that they themselves make the shoes , and so they
never seek the help of any other shoemaker. They have no faith in any
other workman. So their work is very slow, and they work hard day and
night and fail to make both ends meet. Gradually, they lose their business.
Due to almost no work and starvation the elderly Gessler dies. The
younger brother too fades away, and the shop closes one day.
- In short, a hobby turned into a profession does not always provide
happiness. It may provide satisfaction for a while.
10. Others + Conclusion
The slogan of the store is YOU GET YOU PAY FOR, this statement wanna
emphasize that a thing that can be bought for a very low price probably isn't
very good.When you pay more money for an item, it's usually of good quality
and will last a long time. This means that even our product is a little bit more
expensive than others but the life duration will last much longer, which can help
you to save money buying other shoes as low-quality shoes will get broken
more easily than these of ours. Another logo you can see here is step into
excellence. Whenever you choose our shoes to start your day, you are choosing
excellence because our shoes are made of the highest quality leather that you
can never find anywhere else in the world. Step into the shoes, step into
excellence and you can upgrade yourself by using our products.
● CONCLUSION:
As a social activist and realist, John Galsworthy describes how the Industrial
Revolution and mass production forced traditional workers and artisans to be
disappointed. Although small businesses often struggle due to lack of
commitment and customer satisfaction, the Gessler brothers were more
concerned with both aspects: less costs and more commitments. Galsworthy
spread the idea of quality over quantity, and brought about a deeper
understanding and respect for true craftsmen, like the Gessler brothers.
According to the author, such entrepreneurs suffer from the limitations they face
in their business: costs, time, unbearable living conditions and lack of
innovative methods in sales and advertising. His love for his craft and
commitment made him a true artist who adhered to his own principles.
However, ironically, he died for his goal. SO, to answer the question in the
introduction that Phuong Quynh proposed: In this modern life, what are the
more important factors to be a successful business? Wide-spread promoting and
advertising or be low-key and focus on the products' quality? The answer is
both. Advertising and the quality of the products also play important roles in
satisfying your customers and the keys to push your business more developed.
The deaths of the two Brothers represent the result of focusing too much on the
quality but for other significant factors like advertising and price and so on. In
short, they are equally important and you must balance them in running a
business to be successful.