Creative Background

No Longer Human is a Japanese novel written by Osamu Dazai and first published in 1948. It is considered one of Dazai's masterpieces and a classic in Japanese literature. The novel is a deeply personal and semi-autobiographical work, reflecting Dazai's own struggles with identity, social alienation, and depression.

The creation background of No Longer Human is closely tied to Dazai's life experiences. Born in 1909 into a wealthy and influential family, Dazai was expected to uphold the family's prestige. However, he felt a deep sense of alienation from his family and society from an early age. This sense of not belonging, coupled with his rebellious nature, led him to explore literature and writing as a means of expressing his inner turmoil.

Dazai's personal life was marked by a series of tragic events, including multiple suicide attempts, failed relationships, and struggles with substance abuse. These experiences are reflected in the protagonist of No Longer Human, Oba Yozo, who feels disconnected from humanity and unable to comprehend the normalcy of others' lives.

The novel is structured as a series of notebooks left by Yozo, each detailing different phases of his life from childhood to adulthood. Through Yozo's eyes, readers are given a glimpse into the mind of a person who constantly battles with the fear of being exposed as a fraud, incapable of feeling the emotions that others seem to experience naturally.

No Longer Human resonated with post-war Japanese society, where many people were grappling with feelings of loss, guilt, and existential despair. The novel's raw and honest portrayal of human vulnerability has made it a timeless work, appealing to readers across generations and cultures who identify with its themes of alienation and the search for meaning.