The feeling of emptiness that Mr. Nilson has just under his fifth rib could well be the result of a psychosomatic condition. That is to say that he has a physical ailment which has been caused or aggravated by mental factors, such as stress. We know that Mr. Nilson has a high-profile job in the city of London, Great Britain's financial center and the British equivalent of Wall Street. And it seems safe to assume that his job is a very stressful one indeed. That being the case, it's not unreasonable to conclude that the strange empty feeling beneath his fifth rib—in the vicinity of his heart—is somehow related to his work.
As for the "sweetish sensation" in the back of his throat, that would appear to have been caused by the budding bushes of spring. It says a lot about Nilson that he seems to be so disturbed by such a sensation, which most people would welcome. It's only when Nilson finally tracks down the source of this sweetish sensation—the eponymous Japanese quince—that he's able to respond positively to the beauties of nature on this fine spring morning.
But even so, Mr. Nilson is unable to appreciate the beauty of the Japanese quince for very long, as his moment is spoiled by the presence of his neighbor Mr. Tandram. Tandram reminds Nilson so much of himself, and because of this, he feels painfully self-conscious in the other man's presence, making it impossible for him to enjoy this beautiful shrub for more than a brief period.
Why does Nelson feel emptiness and a sweet sensation in the morning?
On its surface, The Japanese Quince is the short story of a man who is briefly unsettled in his personal life. Mr. Nilson's life is one of routine and habit, and he has little connection with either nature, or with other people. His confusion when confronted with an unfamiliar face, that of his own neighbor, is echoed and reflected back on him.
The "emptiness" in his chest, described as "just below the fifth rib," is easily explained as an emotional need, a distance from substantive relationships. Nilson does not even recognize his neighbor when standing across from him, until he thinks about it; his emotional connections are lacking and so there is an unfulfilled "ache" in his heart, figuratively speaking.
The "sweetish sensation in the back of his throat," the symptoms of which progress to a "choking" at the end, are more likely psychosomatic; the spring morning is full of scents, and some or all of those can combine to trigger taste-buds; however, when coupled with his emotional need, the strange taste seems stronger and more important than it would otherwise.
However, both these symptoms could also be signs of physical ailments; Nilson's aching heart could be a sign of muscular weakness, brought on by lack of exercise, and the sweetness in his throat could be a glucose imbalance, possibly from diabetes. In either the literal or figurative sense, there is something wrong with Nilson's health.
Get Ahead with eNotes
Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.
Already a member? Log in here.