Quality, by John Galsworthy

Best known today as the author of The Forsyte Saga,  John Galsworthy  (1867-1933) was a popular and prolific English novelist and playwright in the early decades of the 20th century. Educated at New College, Oxford, where he specialized in marine law, Galsworthy had a lifelong interest in social and moral issues, in particular, the dire effects of poverty. He eventually chose to write instead of pursuing law and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1932. In the  narrative essay Quality, published in 1912, Galsworthy depicts a German craftsmans efforts to survive in an era where success is determined by adverdisement, nod by work. Galsworthy depicts shoemakers attempting to stay true to their crafts in the face of a world driven by money and immediate gratification — not by quality and certainly not by true art or craftsmanship. Quality first appeared in The Inn of Tranquility: Studies and Essays (Heinemann, 1912). A portion of the essay appears below. Quality by John Galsworthy 1 I knew him from the days of my extreme youth because he made my fathers boots; inhabiting with his elder brother two little shops let into one, in a small by-street — now no more, but then most fashionably placed in the West End. 2 That tenement had a certain quiet distinction; there was no sign upon its face that he made for any of the Royal Famil — merely his own German name of Gessler Brothers; and in the window a few pairs of boots. I remember that it always troubled me to account for those unvarying boots in the window, for he made only what was ordered, reaching nothing down, and it seemed so inconceivable that what he made could ever have failed to fit. Had he bought them to put there? That, too, seemed inconceivable. He would never have tolerated in his house leather on which he had not worked himself. Besides, they were too beautiful — the pair of pumps, so inexpressibly slim, the patent leathers with cloth tops, making water come into ones mouth, the tall brown riding boots with marvelous sooty glow, as if, though new, they had been worn a hundred years. Those pairs could only have been made by one who saw before him the Soul of Boot — so truly were they prototypes incarnating t he very spirit of all foot-gear. These thoughts, of course, came to me later, though even when I was promoted to him, at the age of perhaps fourteen, some inkling haunted me of the dignity of himself and brother. For to make boots — such boots as he made — seemed to me then, and still seems to me, mysterious and wonderful. 3 I remember well my shy remark, one day while stretching out to him my youthful foot: 4 Isnt it awfully hard to do, Mr. Gessler? 5 And his answer, given with a sudden smile from out of the sardonic redness of his beard: Id is an Ardt! 6 Himself, he was a little as if made from leather, with his yellow crinkly face, and crinkly reddish hair and beard; and neat folds slanting down his cheeks to the corners of his mouth, and his guttural and one-toned voice; for leather is a sardonic substance, and stiff and slow of purpose. And that was the character of his face, save that his eyes, which were gray-blue, had in them the simple gravity of one secretly possessed by the Ideal. His elder brother was so very like him — though watery, paler in every way, with a great industry — that sometimes in early days I was not quite sure of him until the interview was over. Then I knew that it was he, if the words, I will ask my brudder, had not been spoken; and, that, if they had, it was his elder brother. 7 When one grew old and wild and ran up bills, one somehow never ran them up with Gessler Brothers. It would not have seemed becoming to go in there and stretch out ones foot to that blue iron-spectacled glance, owing him for more than — say — two pairs, just the comfortable reassurance that one was still his client. 8 For it was not possible to go to him very often — his boots lasted terribly, having something beyond the temporary — some, as it were, essence of boot stitched into them. 9 One went in, not as into most shops, in the mood of: Please serve me, and let me go! but restfully, as one enters a church; and, sitting on the single wooden chair, waited — for there was never anybody there. Soon, over the top edge of that sort of well — rather dark, and smelling soothingly of leather — which formed the shop, there would be seen his face, or that of his elder brother, peering down. A guttural sound, and the tip-tap of bast slippers beating the narrow wooden stairs, and he would stand before one without coat, a little bent, in leather apron, with sleeves turned back, blinking — as if awakened from some dream of boots, or like an owl surprised in daylight and annoyed at this interruption. 10 And I would say: How do you do, Mr. Gessler? Could you make me a pair of Russia leather boots? 11 Without a word he would leave me, retiring whence he came, or into the other portion of the shop, and I would continue to rest in the wooden chair, inhaling the incense of his trade. Soon he would come back, holding in his thin, veined hand a piece of gold-brown leather. With eyes fixed on it, he would remark: What a beaudiful biece! When I, too, had admired it, he would speak again. When do you wand dem? And I would answer: Oh! As soon as you conveniently can. And he would say: To-morrow ford-nighd? Or if he were his elder brother: I will ask my brudder! 12 Then I would murmur: Thank you! Good-morning, Mr. Gessler. Goot-morning! he would reply, still looking at the leather in his hand. And as I moved to the door, I would hear the tip-tap of his bast slippers restoring him, up the stairs, to his dream of boots. But if it were some new kind of foot-gear that he had not yet made me, then indeed he would observe ceremony — divesting me of my boot and holding it long in his hand, looking at it with eyes at once critical and loving, as if recalling the glow with which he had created it, and rebuking the way in which one had disorganized this masterpiece. Then, placing my foot on a piece of paper, he would two or three times tickle the outer edges with a pencil and pass his nervous fingers over my toes, feeling himself into the heart of my requirements.

The Controversial Issue Of Euthanasia - 1150 Words

Euthanasia should not be legalised in Australia. Good morning 10C and Ms Leoni, Today I am here to talk about the controversial issue of euthanasia. This year, the Greens party has planned to introduce a ‘Rights of the Terminally Ill’ bill into state parliament. This has raised the issue of whether or not euthanasia should be legalised in Australia. Euthanasia is the practice of ending a person’s life in order to release them from an incurable disease or intolerable suffering. There are two types of euthanasia: voluntary and involuntary. Voluntary euthanasia occurs upon request and involuntary euthanasia refers to ending the life of a person who is not mentally competent, such as a comatose patient, or hastening the death of someone who†¦show more content†¦The biggest concern is what is known as ‘the slippery slope’. What I’m basically trying to say is that voluntary euthanasia will inevitably lead to involuntary euthanasia. The Dutch experience is a perfect example of this. In Holland, where euthanasia is legal, it was found that in 1990, 52 per cent of the 10,588 cases of a doctor’s intent to hasten death were done with no explicit request from the patient. According to the Remmelink Report, an official Dutch government survey of euthanasia practices, it was found that more than 1000 patients are involuntarily euthanized each year. This proves that there really can be no safeguards in legalised euthanasia. If you are elderly and at death’s door in a hospital short of beds, would euthanasia be a good enough excuse if your vulnerability was taken advantage of? We all need to understand that no proposal has ever been devised which can be guaranteed not to be abused. It seems that abuse is unavoidable since people with bad intentions exist all over the world. So let’s learn from the Dutch experience and not let this happen in Australia. It is widely believed by many that if a person is willing to die, then it is their own choice and they should be given the right to do so. However, they fail to understand that one’s ‘willingness’ could in fact be their anxiety and fear of becoming a burden on others, which drives them to make some extremely tough decisions under

Our appearance can be an important factor In developing a sense of our identity free essay sample

?â€Å"Our appearance can be an important factor In developing a sense of our identity† I often wonder around the city aimlessly capturing the atmosphere that the city unfolds itself by taking photos of buildings, riots, and most importantly the city people. For years people have ensnared me, countless of times I have sat on a train or at cafe just gazing at them. Their personalities, their mannerism and the lives they lead have always seem to drawn me in. I often find myself thinking what has shaped them? As I walk down flinders street steps, my attention is lead to the prominent sight of â€Å"emos†, sitting there, with their groups smoking looking glum. Their garments are most prominently black with hints of red. Black jeans with a studded belt over the top, black t-shirt that often features some type of band name on it, black converse shoes and maybe a few safety pins thrown in for good measure. We will write a custom essay sample on Our appearance can be an important factor In developing a sense of our identity or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page To create a contrast their layered hair with long straight bangs range from peroxide blonde to blues and green. Their piercing obtrude from their body as coy people brisk down the steps in a fast pace avoiding any eye contact with these perceived teenager delinquents. Rather then diminishing their identities in order to belong, they represent themselves through their appearance reflecting their strong sense of sense and their emotions of hating the world and being all black. Marieke Hardy is one who takes great care in making sure her appearance complements her personality, which infuses her uniqueness. In the article she wrote in the age, Hardy reflects how her sense of fashion consists of â€Å"an assault of red and white polka dots, bright lipstick†¦and flower adorned hair† portraying how the sense of clothes she wears strengthens her identity and shows off her personality. She claims that her bold and in your face attitude is mirrored through her facade. J Alexander a judge from Americans Next Top Model also makes sure his appearances denotes his sense of place. J Alexander dresses very feminism and is often referred to as Miss J. If you haven’t picked up already he is Gay. His feminism appearances reflect his sexuality and his strong sense of knowing who is and being proud of it. Through Marieka Hardy and J Alexander they show how the help of austere garments choices ultimately reflects the way you feel on the inside and making It easier to exert your individuality and be who you want to be. This prompt can also work in reverse for those who feel that their appearance does not match their personality or the way the want to be seen. Through Sunil Badami’s story â€Å"Sticks and Stones and Such Like† he highlights the schism, which he feels between his â€Å"Indian appearances with [his] Australian feeling†. He attempts to remove his brown skin by â€Å"scrubbing† his â€Å"right arm† with a â€Å"floor brush† to be what he perceives as normal. The desire of Sunil wanting to fit in, placed confusion on himself. The appearance he created for himself made him feel that he wasn’t different even though he still didn’t seem to fit in. The nurse highlights to Sunil that â€Å"we are all pink on the inside† to portray how the appearance of someone can be stereotyped and that your true sense of identity comes from within. However it can be hard to let your inner sense of identity to stand out when they way you look gives you an overriding notion of being different. Wandering down Swanston Street, with the camera in my hand, it all comes clear to be that the way you look can have a negative impact on people. The maddening rush that is in peak our Melbourne, one man seems to be overlooked. He sits beneath of those coming from the bargain sales or going home from a long day at work, with out an derision, but rather of deep desolation. The shoes on his feet are torn, his hair is unwashed and tangled, and this mans appearance defines every aspect of who he is, with one word homeless. The society stereotypes him as they walk past, seeming him as dangerous and a drug attic that is easily aggravated. The appearance you create for yourself is merely superficial and a minute aspects of ones identity.