Here are some book club questions for No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai. While some are general questions that may be used as a cue for readers to respond to, we have also presented a list of specific questions from Demon Copperhead along with responses to the same.

Book Club Questions for No Longer Human 

Questions for Discussion

1. How do Yozo’s childhood trauma and being born in a relatively affluent household affect adult life?

2. Discuss Yozo’s interactions with the women in his life (Tsuneko, Shizuko, Yoshiko, the madame of the bar) and their significance in shaping his character. How does Yozo perceive and behave towards these women, and what insights do these relationships offer into his personality and mindset?

3. How does Yozo change/evolve throughout the novel No Longer Human?

4. What could be the significance of Dazai’s use of point of view and perspective in the prologue and epilogue of No Longer Human?

5. The literal Japanese translation of “no longer human” would be “disqualified from being human”. Explore the theme of “disqualification” from humanity in No Longer Humanand its significance. What specific factors or aspects disqualify Yozo from being considered human, and how does this concept differ from the idea of “no longer human”?

 No Longer Human | Question & Answers

• Bring out the significance of the opening line of the book.

The novel’s opening line, “Mine has been a life of much shame,” reveals Yozo’s pessimistic perspective. Since shame often arises from a sense of failing to meet societal standards, the opening line becomes the first indicative of a self-conscious and self-critiquing protagonist. In the lines following the first, it becomes evident to the reader that the protagonist, Yozo, does not view himself as fully “human” due to his inability to communicate or understand the ways of the society he has been part of. Yozo regards social integration as a crucial aspect of human identity, and this exacerbates his turmoil and torment. Yozo finds himself unable to comprehend most of these societal norms (which are natural to others but appear absurd to him) as explored throughout the rest of the novel. The opening line, therefore, sets the stage and introduces the primary theme, conflict, and abstract that the novel and its protagonist grapple with.

• What is the significance of the title No Longer Human? Provide a breakdown of each of the three words. How does the title encapsulate the core idea of the novel?

The first entry in the initial notebook begins with a poignant statement: “Mine has been a life of much shame. I can’t even guess myself what it must be to live the life of a human being.” The novel’s Japanese title, Ningen Shikkaku, directly translates to “disqualified from being human.” Yozo’s self-perception suggests that he believes his existence is so morally compromised that it can no longer align with that of a “normal” human being.

As we delve deeper into the novel, we embark on a journey through Yozo’s childhood, adolescence, and ultimately into adulthood. Throughout this tumultuous life journey, Yozo grapples with an enduring fear of being insincere. To cope with this inner turmoil, he employs coping mechanisms such as clowning, periods of intoxication, and engaging in drug use. The title thus, serves as an introduction to the overall theme of isolation, alienation, and existentialism that forms the basis of the protagonist’s mind.

• Comment on the narrator’s worldview on “society”? Is his worldview justified? Why? Why not?

Yozo identifies himself as someone perpetually evading human society. Growing up, he grapples with a profound sense of isolation and disconnection from both his family and peers. During this formative period, Yozo develops a knack for humor, using laughter as a shield to conceal his inner turmoil. He openly admits his struggle to grasp societal norms, such as communal dining, and uses harmless lies for politeness. He hints at a traumatic childhood marked by mistreatment from family servants, which might contribute to his later-life alienation.

As he matures into adolescence, Yozo becomes aware of his appeal to girls, but their affection only adds to his confusion, and he displays little inclination to cultivate genuine relationships. Paradoxically, despite his aversion to society, Yozo’s existence becomes inextricably linked to relationships for survival and companionship. In Tokyo, he enrolls in art classes but quickly descends into a lifestyle of heavy drinking and promiscuity, harshly criticizing those around him even as he relies on their support. Horiki, whom he mocks as a carefree Dionysian, teaches him essential survival skills when Yozo is disowned by his family. Flatfish, who is derided as “contemptible” gruffly takes him in after a suicide attempt. Despite his worldview of disdain and apathy for the societal framework that surrounds him, it becomes unmistakably clear to the reader that Yozo depends on it for his very existence.

• Comment on the space occupied by existentialism in No Longer Human.

According to Albert Camus, the Absurd, when it arrives, “is a shock: daily life takes on a mechanical and pointless quality”. This frequently causes the individual to become disconnected from their previous way of experiencing and understanding life.

For Yozo, this realization occurred at a young age when he came to understand that the station bridge held only utilitarian value and lacked any inherent sense of pleasing aesthetics. He consistently attempted to interpret objects in unconventional ways, far removed from their intended purposes. Whenever he encounters the pragmatic functionality of objects and dissects their inherent lack of meaning, he descends further into an abyss of alienation, to the point where even a basic concept like ‘hunger’ loses any coherence to him. Throughout the novel, Yozo incessantly laments his inability to comprehend or grasp a world that inherently lacks coherence.

As an overly sensitive observer, Yozo grows up keenly aware of the hypocrisy inherent in people’s everyday actions, often driven by their efforts to uphold and conform to societal and cultural norms. As he resorts to clowning and constructing a resilient facade, Yozo confronts absurdity again when he realizes that the young women around him would subject him to mockery and torment in the presence of others, only to embrace him passionately once everyone else has departed. Absurdity emerges when Yozo desperately seeks meaning in the actions of people who are deemed normal, the very actions and standards by which he felt disqualified, yet which lacked any inherent meaning that could satisfy him. His dread of humanity, explicitly emphasized on numerous occasions, underscored the recurring theme of absurdity and existentialist dilemma in his desire to be accepted into a society he both despised and deeply feared from within.

• What does it mean to be human for Yozo? Does Yozo have a flawed definition of being human?

Yozo declares himself as being “disqualified as a human being.” However, his definition of what it means to be human is fundamentally flawed. He sees humans as fitting into a standardized mold, viewing any deviation from this norm as inhuman. From the reader’s perspective, Yozo’s narrative, marked by its aimlessness and gradual deterioration, devoid of a structured plot or a clear resolution, embodies an innate human quality.

By crafting brutally self-deprecating self-portraits throughout the novel, Yozo establishes a connection with the reader, emphasizing the notion that he is, at his core, a tragically flawed human, much like any other individual. It becomes evident to the reader, as the plot progresses that Yozo’s conception of what constitutes a human being is skewed, whereas his meandering, deteriorating story, lacking a definite plot or conclusion, serves as a poignant reflection of the human condition.

• Shame. Vulnerability. Depression. Self-esteem. Bring out the relationship between these concepts in No Longer Human.

Since his childhood, Yozo was perceptive enough to recognize that deviating from society’s perceived norms in a way that set him apart would result in something frightening. This encapsulates Yozo’s apprehension of, and therefore, vulnerability to human interactions. Practically everyone in Yozo’s life lacks genuine empathy for his depression. While there are individuals who technically offer support during his tough times, they still seem to harbor a condescending attitude toward him due to his perceived incapacity to live in conformity with societal norms. Yozo’s inability to understand humans and society brings his self-esteem down as he looks upon himself only in shame.

On his failed suicide attempt, Yozo is disowned by his father and family. Ashamed of him (his father was a popular political persona), they maintain distance from him, occasionally sending him money, but never attempting to reach out to help even as Yozo spirals into an endless loop of depression, addiction, and self-destruction.