Students can also check the English Summary to revise with them during exam preparation.
Quality Summary Analysis and Explanation By John Galsworthy
About the author John Galsworthy
| Author Name | John Galsworthy |
| Born | 14 August 1867, Kingston upon the Thames, United Kingdom |
| Died | 31 January 1933, Hampstead, London, United Kingdom |
| Plays | Strife, The First and the Last, The Skin Game, Escape |
| Awards | Nobel Prize in Literature |
Quality Introduction
Every art is an effort of craftsmanship. Every profession needs perfection and inclination towards it and every creation is an art of perspiration, patience, and passion. So everything crafted and must be taken with dignity.
The story is about a German Shoemaker who devoted his life to shoemaking and did every effort to satisfy his buyers. But he drastically failed because of consumerism and competition. Sympathy is evoked for such a craftsman.
Quality Summary of the Lesson
The lesson is a past recollection of the narrator’s life. He was nostalgic while mentioning about the shoemaker, whom he has been visiting in his young age as he made his father’s shoes. He lived in a small by-street in London with his elder brother.
There was no signboard at his shop other than the name of Gessler brothers. A few pairs of shoes was showcased. He nerve failed to make befitting shoes as per the orders he had received.
It amused the narrator. Mr. Gessler replied to the narrator that work is an art when he talks about shoemaking as ‘awfully hard’. He had a great appreciation for his work as his shoes lasted longer than expected.
He compared his shop with Church as one enters and sit on a chair. The harsh sound of grating and his thumping on wooden stairs were remembered. He further added that his eyes were blinkering as he was dreaming of boots.
The stinky smell of leather was noticed by him when he asked for shoes of Russian leather, in turn, he brought a gold brown leather with admiration & appreciation for it.
In his German accent, he would confirm for the next fortnight and in case he fails, he would leave to his boot making.
Once when the narrator complained about his creaky shoes then he inquired about the reason. He asked him to bring back to him know the cause and even offered to return the money.
Once he purchased shoes of some big firm. The shoemaker looked at them with disapproval. He analyzed and pressed the finger from where it was not befitting.
He spoke negatively about the professionalism of big firms. Then he complains that less work comes to him because of deceptive market strategies. The way they use to tempt buyers.
He seemed to be to have grown old with more grey hair in his beard. Moved by his condition he ordered many pairs that even lasted enough for two years. Realizing his miserable state, the narrator ordered again for many pairs of shoes.
Just after that the narrator Went to state, the narrator ordered again for many pairs of shoes. Just after that the narrator went to abroad for a year. The shop keeper grew older and weary than to help him in his difficult times the narrator ordered for more shoes.
When he tried them on, they were made perfect. Then he made payment by cheque.
In Week’s time, he wanted to visit him again to thank him for his splendid efforts. But he was told about his untimely death. His strenuous effort and dedication to complete his order and taken a toll on him.
He didn’t bother to eat and died to starvation. He could survive the cut-throat competition. His earning were gone in rent and buying leather. He died in rags and an empty stomach.
Such a craftsman met a tragic death.
The School for Sympathy Summary