“No Longer Human” (Japanese: 人間失格, Hepburn: Ningen Shikkaku), also translated as A Shameful Life, is a 1948 novel by Japanese author Osamu Dazai1. The story revolves around a troubled man named Oba Yozo, who grapples with alienation, abuse, and self-acceptance throughout his life. Here are some key points about the novel:
Plot Summary:
Yozo Oba, the protagonist, struggles with revealing his true self to others. Instead, he maintains a facade of hollow jocularity.
The novel delves into Yozo’s life, including his encounters with worldly pleasures, his relationship with Horiki, and a suicide pact with Tsuneko (from which only Yozo survives) 2.
Themes and Impact:
Personal Struggles: Yozo’s battles with mental health, love, and his participation in the Communist Party are depicted through a semi-autobiographical lens.
Tenderness Amid Despair: Despite the bleakness, the novel occasionally reveals moments of tenderness in Yozo’s life 3.
Author’s Background:
Osamu Dazai is considered one of the foremost fiction writers of 20th-century Japan.
His works, including “No Longer Human”, address themes such as human nature, mental illness, social relationships, and postwar Japan.
Dazai’s writing style combines transparency into his personal life with a modern sensibility 4.
In summary, “No Longer Human” offers a poignant exploration of identity, despair, and the complexities of being human in a changing world.