These are reading analysis questions for Dazai Osamu's 太宰治 most famous novel No Longer Human 人間失格. Written in 1948, the text still resonates with Japanese and global audiences today for the universality of its subjects and themes, including the relationship between the individual and society, and what it means to be human. It is frequently portrayed as an "autobiographical" or "semi-autobiographical" work, or an "I-novel" 私小説 in Japanese; however, I am not sure how helpful viewing the text in this way is. I think Dazai, like his idol Akutagawa Ryunosuke 芥川龍之介, was a bit more aware of the complexities, peculiarities, and power of fiction-writing than is frequently suggested with the supposedly all-encompassing label of "semi-autobiographical." Incidentally, I am also not sure that "No Longer Human" is the best translation of 人間失格. In my view at least, it seems that a more literal "human failure," or, "disqualified as a human being" (1958: 167) more accurately conveys the nuances of what Dazai and Yozo appear to be implying about humanity. In any case, I hope these questions will be of use in analyzing the text.
-- Justin
