MASKING DESIRES: A LACANIAN ANALYSIS OF OSAMU DAZAI’S NOVELS

Abstract

The research study offers a detailed exploration of Osamu Dazai’s seminal novels, No Longer Human and The Setting Sun, through the lens of Lacanian psychoanalytical theory, aiming to scrutinize the intricate interplay between societal conformity and masking personal desires. It aims to elucidate the human condition by investigating how the characters’ use masking as a defense mechanism to navigate society, thereby impacting their identity and relationships. Through a qualitative approach, this research study seeks to trace the utilization and evolution of masks throughout the narratives. The study further explores the consequences of prolonged masking, analyzing how the initial defense mechanism causes psychological conflict ultimately leading to alienation and despair. This research study is delimited to the character analysis of Dazai’s novels, employing Lacan’s theory of desire and lack. Drawing on Lacan’s seminars and critical literature, the study examines how the use of masking leads to psychological turmoil and how the tension between the real and the ideal self culminates in alienation and despair. It determines that the pervasive struggle to reconcile personal desires with societal norms and expectations can cause psychological problems often leading to alienation and despair. By shedding light on this psychological struggle, the study not only offers insights into Dazai’s literary works but also contributes to a deeper understanding of human psychology.