Quality Summary & Explanation class 7 English Chapter 5
Have you ever met someone so passionate about their work that they put their heart and soul into it? Imagine a quiet little shop in a busy street run by a man who doesn’t believe in shortcuts; the only thing he knows is just perfection and dedication. Mr. Gessler, an old shoemaker, isn’t just making shoes; he’s crafting masterpieces with his hands. But in a world where big companies sell mass-produced boots with flashy advertisements, can one man’s dedication to quality survive? John Galsworthy’s Quality takes us on an emotional journey of passion, struggle, and the heartbreaking reality of a world that often values money over true craftsmanship. Let’s understand the Quality Summary and Explanation Class 7 Honeycomb English, tap into the world of Mr. Gessler, and discover what the central theme of the story is.
Quality Explanation Class 7
The narrator starts by telling us that he has known Mr. Gessler since childhood because his father used to get boots made by him. Mr Gessler and his elder brother owned a small shop in London where they made custom boots. Unlike modern shoe stores, their shop had no advertisements or fancy decorations—just a simple nameplate: “Gessler Brothers” and a few boots displayed in the window.
Mr. Gessler only made shoes when people placed an order, and his shoes were perfectly fitted. The narrator describes the shoemaker’s skill as “mysterious and wonderful”, meaning it was almost magical how he could make such perfect boots.
One day, when the narrator was young, he asked Mr. Gessler, “Isn’t it very hard to make boots?”
Mr. Gessler smiled and replied in his German accent, “Id is an ardt!” (It is an art!).
This shows that for him, shoemaking was not just a job but a form of art—he loved and respected his work deeply.
A Shop Unlike Any Other
The narrator explains that Mr. Gessler’s boots lasted for years, so he didn’t need to visit the shop often. Unlike other shops, visiting Mr. Gessler’s store felt peaceful, almost like entering a church.
Inside the shop, there was just one wooden chair where the customer would sit and wait. Mr. Gessler would come slowly down the stairs, wearing a leather apron and no coat, looking as if he had just woken up from a dream—a dream about boots.
When the narrator would order shoes, Mr. Gessler wouldn’t speak much. He would simply disappear into the workshop and return with a beautiful piece of leather in his hands. Looking at it, he would say, “What a beaudiful biece!” (What a beautiful piece!).
Then, he would ask, “When do you wand dem?” (When do you want them?), and the narrator would say, “As soon as possible.”
Mr. Gessler would respond, “Tomorrow fordnighd?” (Fortnight = 2 weeks).
If the elder brother was there, he would say, “I will ask my brudder.”
Even after placing the order, Mr. Gessler would still stand looking at the leather, deeply lost in thought, as if planning how to make the boots perfect.
The Complaint – A Rare Problem
One day, the narrator complained about a pair of boots, saying, “Mr. Gessler, the last pair creaked, you know.” (The boots made a noise while walking).
Mr. Gessler looked at him silently for a long time, waiting to see if he would take back his complaint. Then he said, “Id shouldn’d ’ave greaked.” (It shouldn’t have creaked, high-pitched or harsh sound).
When the narrator insisted that they did, Mr. Gessler lowered his eyes, trying to remember the boots. Feeling guilty for hurting the shoemaker, the narrator wishes he had never mentioned it.
Mr. Gessler told him, “Zend dem back. I will look at dem.” (Send them back; I will fix them.)
Then he explained, “Zome boods are bad from birdt.” (Some boots are bad from birth, meaning sometimes leather can be faulty).
He assured the narrator that if the boots couldn’t be fixed, he would not charge him for them. This shows Mr. Gessler’s honesty and dedication—he wanted only the best for his customers.
An Unexpected Visit to Different Boots
One day, the narrator goes to Mr. Gessler’s shop wearing boots from another store (bought in an emergency).
Mr. Gessler immediately noticed and said, “Dose are nod my boods.” (Those are not my boots).
His tone wasn’t angry or sad, but it was so serious that it made the narrator uncomfortable.
Mr. Gessler pressed on the left boot and asked, “Id ’urds you dere?” (It hurts you there, right?).
He was right—the narrator’s new boots were uncomfortable.
Mr. Gessler then started speaking about the struggles of his trade:
- Big shoe companies were taking away customers.
- They advertised a lot, but their shoes were not made with love.
- He and his brother loved their craft, but fewer people came to them every year.
The narrator noticed Mr. Gessler’s face was full of struggles, and he had grown old and tired from his hardships.
Feeling guilty, the narrator immediately ordered many pairs of boots, and as expected, they lasted so long that he couldn’t visit Mr. Gessler’s shop for two years.
A Shocking News – The Death of the Elder Brother
When he finally returned to the shop, he saw Mr. Gessler handling a piece of leather.
The narrator greeted him, “How are you, Mr. Gessler?”
He replied slowly, “I am breddy well, but my elder brudder is dead.”
This was shocking, as Mr. Gessler had never spoken about his brother before. The narrator felt sorry, but Mr. Gessler only said, “He was a good man. He made a good bood. But he is dead.”
He touched the top of his head, possibly indicating that his brother died from too much stress.
Despite this tragedy, Mr. Gessler still asked, “Do you wand any boods?”, showing his dedication to his work.
The Last Visit – A Final Goodbye
The narrator ordered more boots, but they took a long time to arrive. When they finally did, they were better than ever—perfect in every way.
A year later, when the narrator returned to London, he immediately went to Mr. Gessler’s shop. But this time, something was different—Mr. Gessler’s name was gone.
Inside, he found a new shopkeeper.
The narrator asked, “Where is Mr. Gessler?”
The man replied, “Oh! He’s dead.”
This was a huge shock. The narrator had just received boots from him a week ago!
The new shopkeeper explained, “Poor old man starved himself. Slow starvation, the doctor called it.”
- Mr. Gessler refused to let anyone else make his boots.
- He worked alone, day and night, without eating or resting.
- He spent all his money on rent and high-quality leather.
- Customers left him because he took too long.
In the end, he worked himself to death because of his love for his craft.
The narrator, deeply moved, could only say:
“Yes, he made good boots.”
Quality Summary Class 7 Honeycomb
Let’s look at the Quality Summary of Chapter 5 Class 7 Honeycomb:
The story “Quality” by John Galsworthy revolves around Mr. Gessler, a skilled but struggling German shoemaker in London. The narrator, who has known Mr. Gessler since childhood, admires his craftsmanship. Mr. Gessler and his elder brother run a small shoe shop where they make custom boots of exceptional quality. Unlike large commercial firms, they do not advertise and rely solely on their skill and dedication.
Mr. Gessler takes great pride in his work, considering shoemaking an art. However, his business suffers due to competition from large manufacturers who use advertisements and mass production to attract customers. He resents these big companies, believing they lack passion and craftsmanship.
One day, the narrator unintentionally offends Mr. Gessler by mentioning that a pair of boots he made creaked. Mr. Gessler, deeply concerned about his reputation, insists on fixing or replacing them. On another occasion, the narrator visits the shop wearing boots bought from a commercial store. Mr. Gessler immediately notices and expresses disappointment, emphasizing that big firms do not respect quality. Over time, Mr. Gessler’s business declines as he loses customers to large firms. When the narrator returns after a long absence, he learns that Mr. Gessler’s elder brother has passed away. Later, after another year, the narrator finds Mr. Gessler aged and frail but still dedicated to his craft. He orders several pairs of boots, which turn out to be the best Mr. Gessler ever made. However, when the narrator returns to the shop to thank him, he is shocked to learn that Mr. Gessler has died of starvation. He had worked tirelessly, refusing to compromise on quality, but his dedication led to his downfall.
Central Idea of Quality Chapter 5 Class 7
The story Quality by John Galsworthy teaches us about hard work, honesty, and the struggle of true artists in a changing world.
Mr. Gessler, a shoemaker, makes the best boots because he loves his work and cares about quality. He does not believe in advertisements or making shoes quickly just for money. But big companies, which use machines and sell cheaper shoes, take away their customers. Even though Mr. Gessler never gives up and keeps making perfect shoes, he does not earn enough money to survive.
The story tells us that real talent and hard work should be valued. It also shows that the world is changing, and sometimes, honest people who do their work with love and care struggle to succeed.
Conclusion: Quality summary & Explanation class 7 chapter 5
So, this was the Quality Summary and Explanation Class 7. Mr. Gessler’s story isn’t just about shoemaking—it’s about passion, dedication, and the silent struggle of true artists in a world that often values speed over skill. His devotion to quality reminds us to appreciate the craftsmanship and the effort people put into their work.
Now, think about this: In today’s world, do we truly value quality, or do we chase after convenience? Next time you buy something, will you pause to consider the hands that created it?
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