CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
This chapter consists of five parts. The first one is the background of the study which discusses the reason for choosing this topic. The second part is the
problem formulation which contains two questions that the writer uses to analyze the main character’s point of view of the existence of human being in Osamu
Dazai’s novel No Longer Human. The third is the objective of the study that contains the purpose of writing this thesis. The fourth is the benefit of the study
which explains the significance of this study to the readers. The last one is the definition of the terms which briefly explains the terms used in this study.
1.1 Background of the Study
What is a human being? Considering this question, there will be another question about who can be included as human beings. Most people who just have
ordinary life which means that they try to have a good life, may not think about these questions. They merely follow the cycles of life, born, live and death.
According to most people, they will consider themselves as human being. Being influenced by many factors such as a background from various
cultures can be the reason of asking those questions. Having more than one backgrounds of culture could also make someone confused about his existence,
his understanding about human being, and his meaning of life. We can find Yozo, the main character of the novel No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai, as the
example of a person who asks about what human being is.
1 PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
In Biology, human beings are defined as animals. In this case, we would ask the question about other animals whether they have a meaning or significance
which attached to their life or not. If human life is the only thing that has a meaning, what is it that sets humans apart from other animals? The great apes are
the first cousins of humans. Is there a meaning attached to their life? Does a cow, a pig or a monkey have a meaning or purpose ascribed to its life, except to serve
as food for humans? Maybe we never think why we usually eat three times a day and why we eat. There is an easy question with a difficult answer, eating for life
or life for eating. Hence, it is difficult to answer the question about the existence of human
being. Maybe we never realize why we are here and how human life comes into existence. We can find these questions in the book How Life Really Works. The
answer for the first question about existence is if object or event manifests itself in an observable manner. Human beings obviously exist because they manifest
themselves to other human beings. By reading this book, we will know that since we clearly exist we may ask about our origin and the reason why we are here.
The topic about the existence of human being is interesting. That is the reason why the writer chooses to study this topic. We can find the answers for all
of those questions by doing some observation, reading books about life and human being, and also by reflecting through our own lives.
In the novel No Longer Human, Yozo’s point of view about human being is revealed. Yozo asks about the existence of human being, whether he is a human
being or not. There are many questions arise following the question about human PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
being. There are also many factors that can influence Yozo in asking about the existence of human being. One of the possible factors of why he asks about this is
due to his dual backgrounds, in which they positioned him between the disintegration of the traditions of his aristocratic provincial family and the impact
of modernism. Yozo’s society may also give big influence to his question or his perception about human being. It is also interesting to study more about his
background and how it influences Yozo.
1.2 Problem Formulation
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