The Japanese Quince by John Galsworthy
"The Japanese Quince" is a short story by John Galsworthy that explores themes of personal awakening and social connection through a brief encounter between two neighbors. The narrative unfolds in a compressed time frame of less than an hour, focusing on Mr. Nilson, who experiences an inexplicable sensation during his morning routine. Feeling unsettled, he ventures into a garden square and is captivated by the beauty of a Japanese quince tree and the song of a blackbird.
While admiring the same tree, Nilson encounters his neighbor, leading to an awkward exchange of pleasantries about their shared admiration. This moment of connection, although fleeting, highlights the social barriers present in their lives. As both men retreat to their homes, Nilson grapples with his feelings of unease and ultimately seeks solace in reading the newspaper. The story’s symbolism and its concise exploration of human experience suggest deeper reflections on the nature of existence and interpersonal relationships, inviting readers to consider their own moments of awareness amidst the routine of daily life.
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The Japanese Quince by John Galsworthy
First published: 1910
Type of plot: Social realism
Time of work: The late nineteenth or the early twentieth century
Locale: London, England
Principal Characters:
Mr. Nilson , a well-to-do and important London businesspersonMr. Tandram , another well-to-do and important London businessperson, Mr. Nilson's next-door neighbor
The Story
Though "The Japanese Quince" has far-reaching ramifications about the main characters' lives (as does its central symbol), the story's events transpire in less than an hour in the compressed length of less than three pages. Upstairs in the midst of his early morning pre-breakfast routine, Mr. Nilson becomes aware of a disturbing sensation that he cannot identify. Downstairs, when the sensation recurs, he decides to take a stroll in the garden square surrounded by the exclusive row houses of his neighborhood.
Once outside, Mr. Nilson is charmed by an ornamental tree and a blackbird singing in it. Suddenly, he becomes aware that his next-door neighbor is nearby, also admiring the tree, and the two, who have not been formally introduced, exchange a few laudatory remarks about the Japanese quince and the blackbird. Then, both becoming embarrassed, the pair bid each other good morning and return to their houses. About to reenter his house, Nilson again gazes at the tree and the blackbird, experiences the disturbing sensation, notices his neighbor (also about to reenter his house) gazing at the tree and bird, and then, "unaccountably upset," turns "abruptly" into the house and opens his morning newspaper.