A review by jadejoro
No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
No Longer Human is difficult.
I imagine like many of the novel's current readers, I started this book entirely because of the anime Bungo Stray Dogs. I expected to get a clearer understanding of the anime character based upon the novel's author (Dazai). I wasn't prepared for how much I would connect with this book.
"Mine has been a life of much shame," the book starts. "I can't even guess myself what it must be to live the life of a human being." Though the events of the plot more or less progress from Yozo's childhood to his adulthood, the entire story is told from the viewpoint of an adult. Though we start by reading about Yozo's picture books and childhood appetite, we do not get to know our protagonist as cute, innocent child. As it is Yozo telling his own story, we are immediately thrust into his mindset -- this child isn't human. Any resemblance to a human is a carefully crafted mask. Indeed that difference itself is Yozo's story -- we follow him to Tokyo as he bounces through bars and the arms of women, his struggle to hide and cope with his alienation more a driving factor than anything that occurs in the world around him.
Unlike how most authors treat their protagonists, I find that Dazai makes no attempt to convince us to like Yozo. Often he's arrogant, selfish, and misogynistic. Sometimes he recognizes these flaws within himself, other times if there is recognition we don't linger upon it. Yozo, as something inhuman himself, rarely tries to see the humanity in others, unless it's to compare his own shortcomings to what the people around him seem to expect. At times "humanity" almost seems like a checklist for Yozo to perform rather than something to be valued in himself or others.
This dim view of the human race and its members might turn some people away from the book. There is no happy ending (see my content warnings), no positive resolution of any of Yozo's struggles, and a pretty dim outlook on humanity's entire existence. If you're looking for an upbeat story of a man overcoming mental illness, this isn't it, and I'd wager that most anyone that hasn't had their own mind take them to dark places will not enjoy, and may even be repulsed by, this story.
But if you've been there, if you too have dropped "steadily, inevitably into unhappiness" and have "no specific plan to stave off [your] descent", you may find solace in this book. Not solace in the sense of anything getting better, but solace in community. Dazai Osamu put into words feelings I have struggled with since I was eight years old, feelings I was forbidden to discuss, feelings I thought furthered disqualified me from the human connection I was already sorely lacking. Simply put, as a child I thought I was alien. Though modern science and psychology gave me the technical and scientific words needed to explain why I too am no longer human, Dazai gave me a home. In a way, Dazai defined the alien race to which I belong. I may not be human, but I am not alone.
And in the end, isn't that what we all want?
I imagine like many of the novel's current readers, I started this book entirely because of the anime Bungo Stray Dogs. I expected to get a clearer understanding of the anime character based upon the novel's author (Dazai). I wasn't prepared for how much I would connect with this book.
"Mine has been a life of much shame," the book starts. "I can't even guess myself what it must be to live the life of a human being." Though the events of the plot more or less progress from Yozo's childhood to his adulthood, the entire story is told from the viewpoint of an adult. Though we start by reading about Yozo's picture books and childhood appetite, we do not get to know our protagonist as cute, innocent child. As it is Yozo telling his own story, we are immediately thrust into his mindset -- this child isn't human. Any resemblance to a human is a carefully crafted mask. Indeed that difference itself is Yozo's story -- we follow him to Tokyo as he bounces through bars and the arms of women, his struggle to hide and cope with his alienation more a driving factor than anything that occurs in the world around him.
Unlike how most authors treat their protagonists, I find that Dazai makes no attempt to convince us to like Yozo. Often he's arrogant, selfish, and misogynistic. Sometimes he recognizes these flaws within himself, other times if there is recognition we don't linger upon it. Yozo, as something inhuman himself, rarely tries to see the humanity in others, unless it's to compare his own shortcomings to what the people around him seem to expect. At times "humanity" almost seems like a checklist for Yozo to perform rather than something to be valued in himself or others.
This dim view of the human race and its members might turn some people away from the book. There is no happy ending (see my content warnings), no positive resolution of any of Yozo's struggles, and a pretty dim outlook on humanity's entire existence. If you're looking for an upbeat story of a man overcoming mental illness, this isn't it, and I'd wager that most anyone that hasn't had their own mind take them to dark places will not enjoy, and may even be repulsed by, this story.
But if you've been there, if you too have dropped "steadily, inevitably into unhappiness" and have "no specific plan to stave off [your] descent", you may find solace in this book. Not solace in the sense of anything getting better, but solace in community. Dazai Osamu put into words feelings I have struggled with since I was eight years old, feelings I was forbidden to discuss, feelings I thought furthered disqualified me from the human connection I was already sorely lacking. Simply put, as a child I thought I was alien. Though modern science and psychology gave me the technical and scientific words needed to explain why I too am no longer human, Dazai gave me a home. In a way, Dazai defined the alien race to which I belong. I may not be human, but I am not alone.
And in the end, isn't that what we all want?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Mental illness
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, and Sexual assault
Minor: Child abuse
If you struggle with mental illness, I recommend not reading on your bad days. The book is fairly short, so prioritize taking care of yourself.