No Longer Human was written by Osamu Dazai (June 19, 1909 – June 13, 1948). This is a semiautobiographical novel, Dazai's life is reflected well. It is a last work of Dazai. Before last episode of this novel had published, he committed suicide, so this novel is considered as a Dazai's will. I began to read his novel because it was introduced by Nakata Atsuhiko on youtube.
When I read No Longer Human(Ningen Shikkaku) I was shocked and inspired. I had never read such interesting novel.
Before I read this novel, I had never thought about the definition of "human", but I began to think about "What is a man, a humankind? How humans should act?" after I finished to read this novel.
In the story, Yozo had not express his true emotions and thinking from childhood. He scares human, he does not want to communicate with humans, but he plays the fool to be recognized as "human". He always wears a mask of "sociality". I thought that this phenomenon is happening to most of people even me. Yozo is in my mind too. In the society, everyone is using their mask properly, we sometimes lies, hide our feelings to be a part of society. In the story, Yozo could not use his mask properly, he used his mask too much, he lost his humanity, so he loved drug, smoking and drinking to run away from society.
From childhood, in the school, we have been told to follow the rules of human institution, to be "normal". As people get older, they understand the usage of a mask. As people get older, they are losing their true self.
After I read this novel, I am trying not to use a mask, not to be like Yozo. If I do not use a mask, I sometimes faced with problems, but I like to live as Taiga Onodera. I trust that living honestly makes my life better and better.
Job hunting,
mentality strategy
DaiGo
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