Background of “Quality”
The story entitled “Quality” by John Galsworthy was first published in “The Inn of Tranquility: Studies and Essays” in 1912. In the story “Quality”, the author depicts a far-reaching impact on the lives of traditional artisans when the Industrial Revolution that began in England in the middle of the 18th century and later on spread to the other parts of the world. The author also describes the woes of such artisans in the backdrop of the Industrial Revolution, where mass production compromised on quality and led to the slow decay of the cottage industries and the artists associated with such industries.
“Quality” is the short story about a master shoe – maker who was fanatically fastidious about the shoes he made with his own hand. He had some loyal customers, but not many as he loathed advertising, sales promotion and all such means of modern-day business. In commercial acumen, he was a naive, but in dedication to his work, he was second to none. Sadly, he died because, lost in shoe – making, he forgot to feed himself. The traditional German shoemaker, who did not compromise with quality and craftsmanship, met a tragic fate of extinction in an age of marketing where success is determined by advertisement, not by work. 9113 The story “Quality” shows what our business world has become now: more the advertising, more the earning. No one pays attention to the poor traditional craftsmen who value art and quality of products. They have to suffer even though they don’t deserve that.
Central Themes in the Story “Quality”:
Commitment to Craft:
At first Galsworthy may be exploring the theme of commitment. For the entire duration of the story, Mr. Gessler spends all his time in his shoe shop. He appears to spend all his time working. Something that becomes clearer to the reader towards the end of the story when the young man tells the narrator that all Mr. Gessler did was to make boots. The young man considered that Mr. Gessler was so committed to his job that he even went as far as forgetting to Mr. Gessler’s commitment to his work is important because in his eyes, he considers himself to be an artist. He devotes 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.
Honesty and Integrity:
When the narrator complains to Mr. Gessler that the last pair of shoes that he had made for him creaked, Mr. Gessler feels surprised at this complaint and replies that the narrator might have got them wet otherwise they would not have creaked. Like a true gentleman for whom quality matters more than anything, he asks 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. This clearly suggests that not only is Mr. Gessler looking after his customers but that he is honest too. Where many would say there is nothing wrong with the boots, Mr. Gessler doesn’t. He is prepared to admit that may be the boots need fixing. He allows the narrator to politely question his craftsmanship, something that many craftsmen would not allow. But Mr. Gessler is not like other craftsmen. Not only is he committed and dedicated to his work but is honest and is also prepared to fix things that may not be right.
Determination and Perseverance:
Mr. Gessler, despite the loss of his brother and a part of his shop, continues to work. It is as though the most important thing in Mr. Gessler’s life is to make boots that are comfortable and long lasting for people. Despite the fact that the bigger shops are taking his business away, Mr. Gessler does not give up. He continues to work to the best of his ability. For Mr. Gessler, life is work and he is determined to do the best for his customers. Though some critics might suggest that Mr. Gessler is better off selling his shop due to the competition from the other bigger shops, It might be a case that Mr. Gessler is not driven by money. What drives Mr. Gessler is his firm desire to carry on his business and to make the best boots possible. Though he needs money to live, pay rent and buy leather for the shop, money is only secondary to Mr. Gessler.
Sense of Loss and Tragedy:
In the end of the story, there is a sense of loss when the narrator discovers that Mr. Gessler has died. Though the exact cause of death remains unknown what is really striking is that Mr. Gessler continued to work right upto the time of his death. Mr. Gessler who was the personification of the ideals of quality and excellence and who could not give up his commitment to excellence continued to endure hardships and watched helplessly his business being taken over by big firms. Mr. Gessler spent all that he earned on buying the leather of best quality and made artistic boots but never increased their price. The competition was so tough that there was no chance of increasing price. The result was that he had to starve himself to death.
Summary of the Story “Quality”:
Introduction to the Gessler Brothers and Their Shop:
Two brothers who were shoe – makers, lived and worked in a nondescript shop in an alley in the fashionable West End area of London. The narrator was acquainted with them from the age of fourteen when his father used to send him to get his shoes made by Gesslers. The shop had no flashy signage, no bright light, except a dull – looking name board that read Gessler Brothers. The name seemed German. In the window, the two brothers had kept a pair of shoes, perhaps to announce to the public that it was but a tiny shoe making unit. There was a reason behind such modesty, because the two brothers made only customized footwear. They did not make standard – sized shoes in large numbers for the market.
Mr. Gessler’s Excellence in Shoemaking:
Mr. Gessler made shoes with his own hands, with delicacy and care so that they fitted the wearer’s feet perfectly. He made shoes by using the finest leather. He made tall brown riding shoes that seemed almost new after long years of use. Exquisite artisanship was the hallmark of the shoes coming out of the hands of Mr. Gessler. In his youthful young day, the narrator seldom thought about the uniqueness of the shop. By the age of fourteen, the narrator began to realise that it was no ordinary cobbler’s shop, but the workplace of two splendid craftsmen.
Narrator’s Complaint about the Shoes:
On one occasion, the narrator walked up to the shoe – maker to say that the last pair of shoes that he made for him creaked. Mr. Gessler was shocked at this complaint. He looked at the narrator for a time without replying as if expecting him to withdraw the complaint. Mr. Gessler asked the narrator if he had got them wet. The narrator denied it. Mr. Gessler seemed to be lost in thoughts. He was perhaps trying to recollect when and how he had made the pair of shoes. Then, quite unhesitatingly, he asked the narrator to bring the shoes so that he could examine them. The seriousness with which Gessler took complaint made the narrator uneasy. Mr. Gessler said that some boots made by him had defects from the beginning. Quite sportingly, Mr. Gessler offered to refund the cost of the shoes, if they were really bad. The refund offer came after the narrator had worn them for long.
Narrator’s Visit to Place an Order for Shoes:
On another occasion, the narrator went to the Gessler Brothers to order a new pair of shoes. That day, the narrator was wearing a pair of shoes that he had bought in an emergency from some other shop. While taking the order Gessler had noticed that his customer wore shoes made by someone else. He looked the narrator’s footwear with incisive keenness. With a mixture of hurt pride and subtle disapproval, he commented that the pair of shoes in the narrator’s feet was not his products. By a feel of his finger, he could ascertain where the shoe hurt the wearer. Mr. Gessler put his hand down and pressed a finger exactly on the place where the left shoe was not comfortable.
Mr. Gessler’s Grievance against Big Firms:
The narrator’s readymade pair of shoes had struck a raw chord in Gessler’s heart. He began a monologue deriding the large shoe making companies who mass – produced the items without adequate attention to the comforts of their customers. It was quite clear that 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 buyers at the cost of quality. In his opinion, their ultimate aim was to maximise their profits. Such derisive comments seldom came to Mr. Gessler. Displeasure and annoyance were palpable in his face wrinkled by years of toil in his trade.
Narrator’s Sympathy towards Mr. Gessler:
The narrator was moved by the commitment and dedication of Mr. Gessler to his trade. He felt bad that he had some time back complained about the boot he had bought from this master artisan. To make amends for any feelings of hurt he might have caused to the embittered artisan, the narrator ordered quite a few pairs of shoes on him. The shoes were so well made that they lasted for ages. For two years, the narrator could not think of buying any more shoes.
Mr. Gessler’s Struggles against Big Firms:
When the narrator went to the Gessler Brothers after the lapse of two years, he could see the effect of the competition faced by the Gessler Brothers from the big firms. He was surprised to see that one of the two windows of the old shop bore a signboard. It brazenly claimed patronage of the royal household. It became clear that another business had started operating from the premises. It soon emerged that Gessler had rented out a part of the shop to curtail cost. The narrator ordered three pairs though he wanted only two and left the place quickly.
Elder Brother’s Death and Its Impact:
The narrator had developed a sentimental bonding with Gessler’s shop that made him return there again and again. This time his visit had some unpleasant surprises for him. He learnt that the elder of the two Gessler brothers had died. The narrator was indeed quite sorry to know of this. Worries borne out of slack business and the resulting difficulties had forced the two brothers to give up one shop. The loss apparently drove the elder brother to death. The narrator ordered a few pairs of shoes. This time, the supplies came late. He returned to London after a year.
Younger Brother’s Struggle and Decline:
The narrator, after returning to London, went to see his favourite shoe — maker, but this time the encounter was not very pleasant. Gessler had battled poor business, loss of his brother and despondency. The continuing distress had taken a toll of his physical and mental condition. He looked so haggard and broken. He had aged fifteen years in just one year of dull business. At first, he failed to recognise the narrator. The narrator started his conversation by heaping praise on the boots he bought from the old shoemaker. Quite characteristically for Gessler, his attention fell on the narrator’s shoes. He felt it by his own hands and lovingly remembered that he had put in a good deal of effort to make it. The narrator gave him the order for fresh pairs of shoes. Mr. Gessler felt the narrator’s feet and toes with the utmost care to determine how he was going to get a perfect fit. The four pairs of shoes arrived at the narrator’s place one evening. The narrator tried them one by one. In fit, finish and workmanship, these were perfect. Strangely, although a long time had elapsed, the shoeman had charged the same old rate. The narrator paid off the amount.
Younger Gessler’s Death and Narrator’s Grief:
A week later, the narrator went to Mr. Gessler’s shop because he wanted to talk about the excellent shoes he had made. But, on reaching there, he was surprised to see that the name plate was no longer there. In his disturbed mental state, the narrator went into the shop and a young English face greeted him. The narrator enquired about Mr. Gessler and came to know of younger Gessler’s death. Upon hearing this news, the narrator was quite shocked. The young man explained to him that Gessler died from starvation as he used to devote himself to shoe making so much that he used to forget about everything else. All the money he earned went in the rents and leather. The fate was quite obvious from the beginning. But both the narrator and the young man agreed that the Gessler Brothers made good quality boots.
