“What
uneasiness lies in being loved.”
No
Longer Human is written by Osamu Dazai, who was born with the name Shūji Tsushima in
Aomori in 1909. He is a famous Japanese writer known for his works about
alienation or inner darkness. Based on Dazai’s experiences, he was able to write
about existentialism and alienation
themes that explore people who constantly ask “Who am I?” or “What is the meaning of life?” His famous novel, No Longer Human, reflects a deep sense of hopelessness
and disconnection from society, showing how someone's search for who they are can
end in pain and self-destruction.
To be honest, when I first read this book,
I didn’t read all of it, and I started reading it again during my third semester
break. I thought I had plenty of time to understand the words written by Dazai.
At first, I thought this book was just a portrayal of an ordinary depressed
person and nothing special. Honestly, I wasn’t interested in reading it at
first either because the cover was pink and simple, and I assumed the story
would be simple too. It turns out the story is quite complicated. It tells
about a man named Yozo, who actually represents the author himself, broken by
depression. In the story, Yozo is portrayed as someone who doesn’t understand
how to be human. For ordinary readers or those who don’t dive deep into it, it
might be confusing to understand what it means, but that’s exactly what makes it
interesting.
One of my favorite quotes is “My
unhappiness was the unhappiness of a person who could not say no. I had been
intimidated by the fear that if I declined something offered me.” This quote
touched me because I understand what it means. Sometimes we say yes to
everything just to make people happy, but we forget about our own feelings. It
made me realize that saying no is not selfish
it’s a way to take care of ourselves.
Another quote that really made me think is
“Now I have neither happiness nor unhappiness. Everything passes. That is the
one and only thing I have thought resembled a truth in the society of human
beings where I have dwelled up to now as in a burning hell.”
This line shows how Yozo feels tired of
life and has no feelings left. He believes that everything, good or bad, will
pass. I think this quote is very powerful. It sounds sad, but it also tells the
truth. Life always moves on, no matter what happens. I believe Dazai was trying
to say that sometimes life feels like a burning hell when you lose hope, but
knowing that everything passes can help you stay strong.
Reading No Longer Human made me think
about how many people hide their real feelings. They smile and act fine, but
inside, they are hurting. This book helped me understand that everyone has
their own battles, and that’s why we should be kind to each other.
In short, Osamu Dazai wrote No Longer
Human to show his deep sadness and his struggle to live in a world that feels
cold and empty. He wanted people to see how weak and lost humans can feel when
they don’t belong anywhere. The book came out in 1948, and since then it has
become one of Japan’s most famous and moving stories. It has inspired many
movies, anime, and talks about mental health and the meaning of life.
Rizky Anggara Maulana 30802300017
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