Final answer:
Mr. Nilson's conflicting motivations advance the plot and theme of 'The Japanese Quince' by creating tension between the desire for routine and the enticement of new experiences, highlighting resistance to change.
Step-by-step explanation:
The portrayal of Mr. Nilson's conflicting motivations in The Japanese Quince serves to advance the plot and underscore the theme of the story. As with Mark Twain's character who begins confidently but starts to second-guess himself under pressure, Mr. Nilson's internal conflict between his desire for routine and the allure of the quince tree’s beauty highlights the human tendency to resist change. This tension propels the plot forward as the character wrestles with balancing these motivations.
Similarly, The Tale of Genji integrates themes of love and forbidden desire into its plot, which also informs Japanese cultural identity over time through various artistic depictions. Here, Genji’s motivations and actions reveal deeper themes of unrequited love and the complexities of human relationships.
Whether it’s Twain creating tension through dialogue and description or Ishiguro casting doubt through an unreliable narrator, these literary devices shape the readers’ understanding of the conflicts and themes. The manner in which authors craft conflict and theme is crucial, as this not only impacts reader engagement but also conveys the intended message or commentary of the text.