Written By Dorothy Kwan

“Living itself is the source of sin.” – Osamu Dazai

This idea is prominently discussed in regards to the great existential question “What is the purpose of life?”, and within the novel “No Longer Human” Dazai elucidates the themes of Nihilism, dehumanization, and political unrest.

The novel “No Longer Human” details the unreliable narrator—Yozo Oba as he struggles to reconcile his authentic identity, as well as his sense of belonging to society and human relationships.  Since childhood, he has despised contemporary social concepts within general society. He constantly puts on clownish acts, entertaining others while feeling detached from the rest of humanity. Through first-person narrative, presenting the story to the audience in the form of Yozo’s diaries, he navigates through life, followed by the burden of detachment from humanity, and psychological damage. His experiences highlight previously mentioned themes. The following paragraphs will be a discussion of the book and a recommendation.

Nihilism

Yozo adopts the philosophy of Nihilism throughout the story— the belief that life is ultimately meaningless and purposeless, therefore rejecting any possibility of genuine principle beliefs or knowledge (Cambridge Dictionary). The theme and effect of Nihilism are palpable as the plot develops, as Yozo finds no true value in his or others’ existence as humans. He struggles internally and hopes to connect with others and discover a true personal identity. In reality, he does not attempt or see any greater goal in his life, attempt any traditional rebellion against society, or expect to change his powerless situation. Instead, he remains passive throughout the plot, allowing himself to be pushed around by fate and other ongoing events in his life, making him, unlike traditional protagonists who have clear motivations and work down a path to final success. In the plot, Nihilism is the cause of Yozo’s suicide attempts, as well as drug and alcohol addiction leading to his self-destruction. The quote “Everything passes” on page 115 when he becomes twenty-seven, highlights his detached state regarding his surroundings and self-dehumanization. Failing to search for a meaning in life, seems to be what “disqualifies being a human”.

Mental Disorders and Dehumanization

Yozo displays signs of depression, especially towards the end of the third notebook. This could be somewhat related to his childhood trauma of certain violent experiences, twisting his perception of the world around him. Phrases from him such as “I had lost even the ability to suffer” after his father’s death on page 114 clearly show these signs. From childhood trauma to being sent to a mental ward, he went from being in a state of extreme uneasiness, anxiety, and sensitivity to experiencing a state of extreme numbness, dehumanizing him as an individual. Even worse, the late Taisho period (1912-1926) to the early Showa period (1926-1989) (the setting of the plot) still allows stigma towards mental disorders. After Yozo survives a suicide attempt, he gets charged with assisting suicide, and his father quite literally disowns him. The feeling of being rejected by society strips away the identity of an individual, which hints back to Yozo joining a communist group for a sense of belonging.

Societal Problems and Political Unrest

The plot has links to 1920s Japanese politics, mostly to emphasize the attempts of Yozo to find a sense of belonging rather than taking stances. During this era, the Japanese government and Emperor had the policy direction of democracy and internationalism, which was unpopular among civilians and the military, as those saw Japan as the superior nation and democracy as ineffective. Thus, this led to society’s gradual change into two dominant political ideas  –  communism and Shinto ultra-nationalism. Yozo involves himself with a small communist activist group, intending to observe the “irrationality” of its members rather than genuinely acting with any political intentions and beliefs, in an attempt to find a purpose and sense of belonging while internally rejecting social norms.

Sincere promotion recommendation

Therefore, “No Longer Human” is a literary text that mixes philosophy, psychology, literature, and a bit of history to express the struggle to find an authentic identity and a sense of belonging in society. Through the perspective of Yozo Oba, the themes of Nihilism, dehumanization, and political unrest collectively highlight the significance of the novel. If you like any of the above, consider giving it a try—even though there’s no Dazai from Bungou stray dogs, you won’t be disappointed after reading this novel.

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Works Cited

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Rajsi, et al. “Wars, Words, and Identities in ‘No Longer Human’ by Osamu Dazai, and ‘Steppenwolf’ By.” Journal of English Language and Literature, vol. 6, no. 11, Veda Publications, Jan. 2019, p. 501, http://www.researchgate.net/publication/330347301_Wars_Words_and_Identities_in_%27No_Longer_Human%27_by_Osamu_Dazai_and_%27Steppenwolf%27_by. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.

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