No Longer Human

Questions About No Longer Human

by Osamu Dazai

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Answered Questions (11)

How do I read this ?
Alberte Norre Let your mind become loose and take it in. Research the difficult words if needed. Try not to read it if you want to feel good or happy, this book wil…moreLet your mind become loose and take it in. Research the difficult words if needed. Try not to read it if you want to feel good or happy, this book will not tribute to such emotions.

Best wishes.

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Why do you think this book ranks as one of the most important books ever written in Japanese literature?
Cavak Aside from the endless and depressing speculation over whether it's an autobiographical work, it's a timeless piece about why putting on a mask for so…moreAside from the endless and depressing speculation over whether it's an autobiographical work, it's a timeless piece about why putting on a mask for social acceptance doesn't work. And conformity is pretty big for Japanese social norms.

Why some people can be smiling and laughing with their friends in one moment yet break down the moment they are alone. To the point where they are so disconnected from their own needs that they mentally refer to themselves in the third-person. And what can happen when they lack the will to break the cycle themselves or seek real support or help. The question of what truly constitutes self-worth is asked throughout the book.

It's through the eyes of a young man, but most people have gone through this type of experience at least once in their lifetimes. Perhaps (hopefully!) not to the extremes of Oba though.(less)
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My 14-year-old is asking to read this. Is this appropriate for someone of that age?
Osvaldo I'm around that age and I read it. In this day in age, a 14-year-old should be knowledgeable about the stuff presented in this book. This book is no m…moreI'm around that age and I read it. In this day in age, a 14-year-old should be knowledgeable about the stuff presented in this book. This book is no more appropriate than the books that get assigned in schools as mice and men/To kill a mockingbird/Fahrenheit 451/Lord of the flies. talks about the subject of depression if you're asking that.(less)
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This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)
Vicky The epilogue tells us 10 years after Yozo went to live far away from the city and everything that haunted him. All that you have read except the prolo…moreThe epilogue tells us 10 years after Yozo went to live far away from the city and everything that haunted him. All that you have read except the prologue and epilogue was written by Yozo and told you about his life by 3 notebooks. The epilogue and prologue is written by a periodist who is given this three notebooks and three pictures of Yozo through his life and tells us about him in a different point of view, a more rational one. I want to highlight specially a comment said by a female barist (the one who gave this journalist all the things left by Yozo) that said that he was an angel, but they didn't know anything about him because, we he had moved, had been in fire years ago and nothing about him was told. This remarks the point that nobody see Yozo as he was, everyone saw his mask.

The prologue and epilogue are not necessary to read, but it only gives us another point of view of him. Moreover, if you want to read another point of view fo him, you should read the left fragments of "Fiction Dazai" by Kazuo Dan (a close friend of Dazai who, with him, have tried to commit double suicide. He was devoted to dazai). He is a real secret and wrote a biography about him as soon as he had died. The book is so hidden that only fragments of it had been found. You should definetely read them if you are a huge fan of Dazai.(less)
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If I understand right the book is in the point of view of Oba Yozo. Is Osamu Dazai writing about himself but as a different person? Does Oba Yozo portray Osamu Dazai? I'm trying to get a better understanding of the book before I read it.
Vicky He is writing about himself in another person, yes. To not make it so obvious, Dazai changed his literature's passion to painting, in this case.

This …moreHe is writing about himself in another person, yes. To not make it so obvious, Dazai changed his literature's passion to painting, in this case.

This is not confirmed, but it is a theory that seems to make sense because his life and Yozo's one are pretty similar, and i would say almost identical.(less)
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