Quality Summary
The story “Quality” by John Galsworthy is a story of a man who made boots. He was a German man and was settled in London. The story defines his dedication towards his works.
The First to 4th Para:
The First to 4th Para “I knew ……………………………… Into them” explain how the author knew him from his years of boyhood when his father used to make boots from Mr. Gessler. He used to stay with his elder brother in small shop in the street of London. The shop was nothing fancy, but was a small shop with a board named ‘Gessler Brothers’. The window displayed some boots. He only made that was ordered. The boots he made were wonderful and mysterious and would never fail to fit the customer.
One fine day the author recalls that he stretched out his foot for measurement and asked Mr. Gessler how tough it was to do his job. But to his surprise the man replied that it was an art for him. The boots he made lasted long beyond imagination and so it was not possible and required to visit his shop often.
The 5th to 8th Para “One went in …………………………….. Boots” mentions the dedication of his work. Visiting his shop like visiting a church. The customers had to sit on a wooden chair and wait for Mr. Gessler who would come down with a grating sound made from his slippers. It seemed he always had some rooms of making boots. The author finally asked Mr. Gessler if he could make a pair of boots for him. Mr. Gessler wouldn’t say a word and appears after him afters some time with a piece of golden brown- leathers. His words always reminded the author of his dedication towards his work. The author would then greet him and see Mr. Gessler moving upstairs to his dreamland of making boots.
The 9th to 15th Para:
The 9th to 15th Para of the story “I cannot ……………………………. His trade” discusses the moment of complain that the author had with Mr. Gessler with the last pair of boots that creaked Mr. Gessler examined the shoes and admitted that the shoes should not have creaked. Mr. Gessler told the author that the shoes might have been wet before the time but the author did not agree. Mr. Gessler lowered his eyes and stared at the shoes trying to recall the boots and said sorry to the author and asked him to keep them back and he wanted to look into them. He further mentioned that those boots were not got after making, he would try to repair them and if he could not, he would remove them off the bill. Once an incident happened in which the author unknowingly went to the shop of Mr. Gessler wearing a pair of boots that he bought from some other store. Mr. Gessler’s eyes directly went to the boots and he said that those boots are not from his shop. He spoke in a tune which made the author froze. Mr. Gessler directly put his fingers to the part of the left boot which was uncomfortable to wear. He admitted that it hurts the author there. He for the first time spoke about the hardship of his trade.
The 16th to 20th Para:
The 16th to 20th Para “Dey get id all ……………………………. beaudiful biece.” Is the continuation of his problems. He suddenly opened up and said that the big firms only earn customers through advertisements and not hard work. They even take away customers who love their boots. And then suddenly the author noticed fine lines of worries and bitter experiences and white hairs in his red beard which symbolizes the worries and hardships he faced in his life. The author tried to explain in many ways the reason for those bad boots but he was not still convinced. His face made the author ordered many more pair of boots. Those boots lasted longer than years and he could not meet Mr. Gessler for 2 years. The next time he visited the shop it was Mr. Gessler’s elder brother examining a piece of leather. The author asked him how he was. The elder brother replied he was pretty well but his younger brother was no more. The author was shocked and he murmured that he was sorry. They then had a discussion about his younger brother. He was a good man and made good boots. The author noticed that the elder brother’s hair also become thin as it happened with the Mr. Gessler. The elder brother finally asked him if he needed some boots.
The 21st to 26th Para:
The 21st to 26th Para of the story “I ordered …………………………. Wednesday week” mentions the second shocking news the author got. The author had ordered several pairs of boots and then he went. It was almost a year when the author returned to London and went to the first shop which was of his friends. The man looked old and worn who could not recognise the author at first. The author ordered many pair of boots which were perfect. The author then posted a cheque. A week later the author was passing by the Gessler’s shop he thought of thanking him personally but to his surprise the name of the shop was not there. He went inside disturbed and found an Englishman sitting. The Englishman confirmed that they had bought the shop. The author asked about Mr. Gessler’s elder brother.
The 27th and 28th:
The 27th and 28th Para conclude the story “Ah he said …………………………………… Good boots” mentions the truth behind the death of the elder brother. The author was shocked to know that he died of starvation. The Englishman further continued that he was such a hard working man, supplied the best leather, would work on his own, he did not advertise about his shop and could not survive the competition and alas he had to starve to death. The Englishman continued that the elder brother would work the whole day and night, never ate and did not even have a penny in the house. All the money got spent in the leather and the rent. He made excellent boots. The author also confirmed that he made excellent boots.