Osamu Dazai 
Reading Guide and Test Center of Must-Read Classics 
No Longer Human

This book contains many representative works of Osamu Dazai, such as No Longer Human, Goodbye, Wife of Weiyong, Sunset, Snowy Night, Beautiful Men and Smoke, etc. And No Longer Human is his most important work. No Longer Human means disqualification from being human. The book consists of the author’s preface and postscript, as well as three notes of the protagonist, Da Ting Ye Zang. It describes that the protagonist, from youth to middle age, has been sinking in order to escape from reality, experiencing self-exile, alcoholism, suicide, paralyzing himself with drugs, and finally stepping towards the tragedy of self-destruction. In the process of self-denial, he expresses his inner anguish and his desire to be loved … Through the life experience of the protagonist Ye Zang, Osamu Dazai skillfully depicts his life and thoughts. This novel has always been recognized as his autobiographical work, and by this, he raises the real pain of being a human being. From the sluggish writing, he could better understand his deep inner pain. After finishing this work, Osamu Dazai finally chose to throw himself into the water to draw a conclusion.The book consists of the author’s preface and postscript, as well as three notes of the protagonist, Da Ting Ye Zang. It describes that the protagonist, from youth to middle age, has been sinking in order to escape from reality, experiencing self-exile, alcoholism, suicide, paralyzing himself with drugs, and finally stepping towards the tragedy of self-destruction. In the process of self-denial, he expresses his inner anguish and his desire to be loved … Through the life experience of the protagonist Ye Zang, Osamu Dazai skillfully depicts his life and thoughts. This novel has always been recognized as his autobiographical work, and by this, he raises the real pain of being a human being. From the sluggish writing, he could better understand his deep inner pain. After finishing this work, Osamu Dazai finally chose to throw himself into the water to end his life.