4.English Reader - Lesson 4

Quality

English Reader - Lesson 4

Author: John Galsworthy

👞 About the Story

John Galsworthy tells the touching story of the Gessler Brothers, German shoemakers living in London. The story highlights the conflict between artistic quality and commercial success. It shows how true craftsmen, who put their soul into their work, often struggle to survive in a world dominated by big companies and advertisements.

📖 Summary (हिन्दी सारांश)

यह कहानी मिस्टर गेस्लर (Mr. Gessler) नामक एक जर्मन मोची के बारे में है जो लंदन में रहते थे।

गेस्लर की कला (The Art):

• मिस्टर गेस्लर जूतों को केवल एक व्यापार नहीं, बल्कि एक कला (Art) मानते थे।
• वे केवल ऑर्डर (Order) मिलने पर ही जूते बनाते थे। उनके बनाए जूते कभी खराब नहीं होते थे और पैरों में एकदम सही फिट होते थे।
• वे सबसे बेहतरीन चमड़े (Leather) का इस्तेमाल करते थे और सारा काम अपने हाथों से करते थे।

संघर्ष (The Struggle):

लेखक बचपन से उनके ग्राहक थे। एक दिन मिस्टर गेस्लर ने दुख के साथ बताया कि बड़ी-बड़ी दुकानें (Big Firms) अपने विज्ञापनों (Advertisement) के दम पर ग्राहकों को छीन रही हैं, जबकि वे खराब क्वालिटी के जूते बेचती हैं। मिस्टर गेस्लर के पास काम कम होता गया, लेकिन उन्होंने कभी अपनी क्वालिटी (Quality) से समझौता नहीं किया।

दुखद अंत (Tragic End):

अंत में, लेखक बहुत दिनों बाद उनकी दुकान पर गए। उन्हें पता चला कि मिस्टर गेस्लर की मृत्यु "भुखमरी" (Starvation) से हो गई। उन्होंने अच्छे चमड़े खरीदने में अपना सारा पैसा लगा दिया था और खाना-पीना छोड़ दिया था ताकि वे बेहतरीन जूते बना सकें। वे अपनी कला के लिए शहीद हो गए।

📚 Word Meanings (शब्दार्थ)

Word	Meaning (Hindi)	Meaning (English)
Bootmaker	मोची/जूते बनाने वाला	Shoemaker
Mysterious	रहस्यमयी	Strange/Hard to understand
Last	टिकना/चलना	To endure/continue
Advertisement	विज्ञापन/प्रचार	Promotion
Starvation	भुखमरी	Dying of hunger
Essence	सार/आत्मा	The most important quality

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Short Answer Questions

Q1. Who was Mr. Gessler?

Ans: Mr. Gessler was a German shoemaker settled in London, known for making high-quality boots.

Q2. What was the author's opinion about Mr. Gessler?

Ans: The author admired Mr. Gessler deeply and considered him the best bootmaker in London because his boots were perfect and lasted a long time.

Q3. Why did the author visit the shop so infrequently?

Ans: The author visited the shop infrequently because the boots made by Mr. Gessler lasted terribly long (for a very long time), so he didn't need new ones often.

Long Answer Questions

Q1. What was Mr. Gessler's complaint against "big firms"?

Ans: Mr. Gessler complained that big firms had no self-respect. They got customers not by doing good work but by large advertisements. They took away business from honest craftsmen like him who loved their boots. He felt that big firms produced inferior quality boots but still earned more because of marketing.

Q2. Describe the death of Mr. Gessler.

Ans: Mr. Gessler died of "slow starvation." He was so dedicated to his work that he never took time to eat properly. Whatever money he earned, he spent on buying the best leather and paying rent. He kept only a few pennies for food. He worked day and night to finish orders, eventually sacrificing his life for his art.

Q3. Why is the story titled "Quality"?

Ans: The title "Quality" is very appropriate. The entire story revolves around the high quality of boots made by Mr. Gessler. For him, quality was not just about the product; it was about his character, his honesty, and his dedication. He refused to lower his standards even when he was starving. The story is a tribute to his uncompromising commitment to quality.

-- Class 10 English (Bihar Board) Notes --