Class 11

English
Chapter - Quality
Solved question
Question 1. In the story, 'Quality' Mr. Gessler was destroyed but not defeated. Do you
agree with this statement. Justify your answer with examples from the story.
Answer: ’Quality’ written by Galsworthy is indeed the story of Mr Gesslex’s triumph over
adversities. The Gessler brothers are excellent shoemakers. They own a small shop two
shops combined into one with a board ’Gessler Brothers’ outside the Window and a few
pairs of exotic leather shoes at the window. They are completely different from the other
shoemakers in that they never make a shoe with inferior leather nor do they keep a shoe
that is not made by them. Besides, they make shoes purely on order. Quality of the
leather used for the shoes is never compromised. Each pair they make fits perfectly to
the satisfaction of the customer. The shoes thus made are slim and elegant and their
shape makes water come into one’s mouth.

Besides, shopping at Gesslers is altogether a different experience. One cannot expect to

be served at Gessler’s shop.It is more like a place of worship, a place where the
shopkeeper worships the shoes he makes. They are so much experienced in their skill
that they can easily spot the point where the shoe might hurt. For them shoemaking is a
sublime art. They are known to be men of integrity and complete dedication. Due to
competition from big firms, they lost business. As a result of it they had to do away with
one part of their shop. The elder of the Gesslers could not
endure the pain of losing a part of the shop and died. But Mr Gessler, the younger
brother continued with unstinting efforts to maintain excellence in business.

For him what mattered more than monetary benefit was quality of his shoes and
customer satisfaction.
Mr Gessler never compromised on quality. In spite of all the hardships caused by the
Industrial revolution, he stuck to his principles. He tailor-made all the shoes with his
hands, did not use any machines and never advertised his products.
Using the old methods of production. Mr Gessler could not compete with big firms. He
lost business. But he continued with his style of shoemaking compromising on his own
needs till the end. Mr Gessler worked day and night compromising on his food and sleep.

Gradually, he died of slow starvation. We can say Mr Gessler sacrificed his life for the
love of his work and work was worship for him. He was destroyed but not defeated In his
death lies in his victory over crushing adversities. Mr. Gessler sacrificed his life for the
love of his work. He was destroyed but not defeated.