The Japanese Quince

The Japanese quince is the most significant symbol of the story as it represents the antithesis of Nilson. Where Nilson is barren and predictable, the tree is blossoming and spontaneous. Where Nilson withdraws from meaningful contact, the tree opens itself up to the world. Where Nilson is unable to see into his own heart, let alone express what might be there, the tree allows the blackbird to sing from its heart with no embarrassment. It is ironic that the “little tree” is unnamed and unidentified when introduced in the first paragraph, even though it lends its name to the story. In this sense, the tree is hiding in plain sight, waiting to be recognized. Looking out through his dressing-room window, Nilson experiences the tree as a sharp contrast to the dull predictability of his life; the tree is colorful, bold, independent, and self-confident. Though drawn to the tree as something “exotic” and unfamiliar, Nilson never comprehends its significance. Thus, the tree also symbolizes unrealized potential. Just as the reader knows before Nilson does what kind of tree this is, the reader also grasps more fully than Nilson does what it ultimately represents.