zayl k's Key Ideas from No Longer Human
by 太宰治

Yozo is now a young adult, living in Tokyo and working as a graphic designer. He starts abusing drugs and alcohol in an effort to escape the suffering and emptiness he feels on the inside. Yozo engages in a string of unhealthy relationships with women, taking advantage of them for his own amusement before dumping them when he gets bored.

As Yozo's addictions and self-destructive activities catch up with him, we watch him reach his lowest point. He makes several suicide attempts, but each time someone steps in to save him. Eventually, Yozo is placed in a facility where he meets another patient by the name of Horiki. Horiki encourages Yozo to write a diary about his experiences and feelings, which he does. The diary serves as a catharsis for Yozo, allowing him to confront his inner demons and come to terms with his flaws and failures.

"No Longer Human" is a poignant and thought-provoking novel that explores the themes of alienation, self-loathing, addiction, and the search for meaning and connection. Through Yozo's story, Dazai offers a searing critique of Japanese society and the pressures it places on its citizens to conform and succeed. The novel is a timeless work of literature that speaks to the universal struggles of the human condition.