Fill in the blank with the correct option: Gessler died of

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 1:

The correct answer is Option 1, "starvation." This question refers to the character Mr. Gessler, the dedicated bootmaker from the story "Quality" by John Galsworthy. Mr. Gessler's death is a tragic culmination of his unwavering dedication to his craft, which, ironically, leads to his physical deterioration and demise. The story portrays Gessler as an artist who uses the highest quality leather and meticulous skill to create perfect boots, rejecting the modern, mass-production business model. He refused to compromise on quality or rush his work, which meant his income was minimal and inconsistent. He spent all his money on rent and the finest leather, neglecting to spend money on essential needs like food for himself. A neighbor informs the narrator that Gessler "never ate" and was astonished that someone so old could go so long without sustenance. Ultimately, Gessler's passion and commitment to his art took precedence over his own well-being and, tragically, resulted in his death from severe malnutrition. Although the literal cause was starvation, the underlying conceptual reason is his intense artistic integrity and his inability to adapt to a commercialized world that did not value true craftsmanship enough to support him financially.

The incorrect option is 2:

While Mr. Gessler certainly experienced a great deal of "sorrow" due to the decline of true craftsmanship and the failure of his business in the face of larger firms, sorrow itself is not cited as the official cause of his death. His death was a physical, physiological event caused by a lack of food. Although sorrow may have contributed to his neglect of self-care, it was starvation, not sorrow alone, that ended his life.

The incorrect option is 3:

The detail regarding Mr. Gessler's brother’s death occurs earlier in the story and is a separate tragic event. While his brother's passing certainly contributed to Gessler's general melancholy and isolation, the narrative clearly points to a physical cause—the lack of food—as the reason for Mr. Gessler's death. Being shocked at his brother's death was a past incident, not the immediate cause of his own demise.

The incorrect option is 4:

The story does indeed contrast Mr. Gessler's traditional methods with the practices of a "new shopkeeper" or large, competitive firms, highlighting the cruelty of the modern market towards artisans like him. However, "the new shopkeeper's cruelty" is a metaphorical, thematic cause related to his financial ruin, not the direct, immediate cause of his death. The direct cause was the lack of nourishment resulting from his poverty and dedication, which led to starvation.