This will get deleted, so don't post. Anyway, I need someone to proof read my essay. That's it.

Here you go.

The Japanese Quince
To not have a theme of a story is like giving a speech without a script. It is possible but difficult. In The Japanese Quince by John Galsworthy, the theme is conveyed using symbolism and symbolic foils to show 3 things about the main character, Mr. Nilson. The first thing about Mr. Nilson is the restrainment of his lifestyle. Second to be shown is the opportunity he has to change it and third explanation is his denial of the change. In the short story Mr. Nilson, not feeling well, takes a walk in a park outside his garden. He pauses to stare at a Japanese quince, and realizes he is not alone and that his neighbor, Mr. Tandram, a person whom Mr. Nilson ahs not talked to frequently is also enjoying the tree. After a brief and awkward talk about the tree they both go back to their respectable houses and Mr. Nilson notices Mr. Tandram still staring at the tree. Angry, Mr. Nilson reads his paper.
There are several symbols that show that the main character, Mr. Nilson, is mundane at the beginning. The story gives the reader impressions that he is a man of business, perhaps stocks.
"As Mr. Nilson, well known in the City..." Paragraph 1
"Resuming some meditations on the price of Tintos..." Paragraph 2
The connotation of a business man implies that Mr. Nilson has a set way of life and has little room for change. What is concluded is everything for him is normal and routine, from eating breakfast to the meals he eats.
"Half an hour to breakfast..." Paragraph 3
"...he [Mr. Nilson] could recollect no unusual dish..." Paragraph 4
The author's point is that Mr. Nilson lacks life and he realizes this in the story. The feeling of emptiness refers to the heart, which itself represents life.
"...a feeling of emptiness just under his fifth rib." Paragraph 1
"He drew several deep breaths...but they augmented rather than diminished the sensation...with a faint feeling just above his heart."
In the story possibilities are given to Mr. Nilson to improve his life, and it is implied early on. "...opened the window..." Paragraph 1
""Perfect morning," he thought; "Spring at last!"" Paragraph 1
Through out his walk Mr. Nilson notices nature and smiles at it, which allows the reader to think that he does not get out that often, and he enjoys seeing it. The nature itself also plays a role as a symbol of potential for Mr. Nilson.
"Mr. Nilson smiled; the little tree was alive and pretty!" Paragraph 5
"It was covered with young blossoms, pink and white, and little bright green leaves both round and spiky; and on all this blossom and these leaves the sunlight glistened." Paragraph 5
The most important symbol is a blackbird. The blackbird in the story acts as a foil to Mr. Nilson; it is everything Mr. Nilson is not. It sings out loud, opposed to Mr. Nilson who doesn't know how to connect in social situations. The bird itself also resembles Mr. Nilson; Mr. Nilson wears a black coat and the blackbird is black.
"He was on the point of resuming his promenade, when a blackbird close by burst into song..." Paragraph 5
"Putting on his [Mr. Nilson] black frock coat..." Paragraph 2
The blackbird are favored by Mr. Tandram, who himself is a mirror of Mr. Nilson.
"I [Mr. Tandram] prefer them to thrushes myself..." Paragraph 17
Mr. Tandram, the neighbor of Mr. Nilson, acts as a mirror image to Nilson. They live next to each other; both wear black coats, they look alike and both admire the same tree, which is the Japanese quince.
"It was his next door neighbor, Mr. Tandram..." Paragraph 6
"...he [Mr. Tandram] was wearing a black frock coat."
"He [Mr. Tandram] was about Mr. Nilson's own height, with firm, well-coloured cheeks, neat brown mustaches, and round, well-opened clear grey eyes..." Paragraph 6
"Mr. Tandram also gazed at the blossom..." Paragraph 19
However, at the end, Mr. Tandram leaves as the blackbird sings again. Mr. Nilson does not speak anymore; merely they part, unlike the blackbird, who kept on singing. This is due to they fact that they remained the same; neither of them tried to talk more about their similarities. The result is that Mr. Nilson gets upset, for he had failed trying to make a new friend and failed, and Mr. Tandram was trying to do the same. However, the blackbird keeps on singing. Mr. Nilson tries to hide because of this, suggesting he does not take failure well.
"From a distance the blackbird gave a loud, clear call." Paragraph 21
"...I [Mr. Tandram] must be going in. Good morning!" Paragraph 21
""Good morning," he [Mr. Nilson] replied..." Paragraph 23
"The blackbird...and was chanting out his heart." Paragraph 24
"Mr. Niison sigh; once again he felt that queer sensation, that choky feeling in his throat." Paragraph 25
"The sound of a cough or a sigh...in the shadow of his French window, stood Mr. Tandram..." Paragraph 26
"Unaccountably upset, Mr. Nilson turned abruptly into the house and opened his morning paper." Paragraph 27

The author uses a vast amount of symbolism and foils as symbols to convey the theme. The major point of the story is that everyone needs life and difference, and they can't hide from it. This is shown with Mr. Nilson, who in the beginning, has not a lot of it, tries to get it, and in fear of failure again, tries to hide from it. The heavy use of literary convention portrays the message well, and the reader is sure to understand the theme after pondering over the story.