[Book Review] Osamu Dazai’s The Setting Sun: A Book Review and Analysis

By: Sophia, Grade 9

Osamu Dazai’s The Setting Sun takes place during post World War 2 Japan following Kazuko after her father dies. She and her mother reside in her family home on her uncle’s salary which suddenly meets a drastic decline, causing them to move away. We progress through the deterioration of her family and explore the post war struggles that aristocrats faced. The result is a tragic, but hopeful story that captures what it means to keep living despite the crippling of stability in someone's life. 

For context, Post War Japan was occupied by SCAP (Supreme Commander for Allied Powers) whose main directives were to abolish the aristocracy and move away from militarization. It is also important to note that the author himself served as an embodiment of the aristocrat’s decline as he was born into an influential family but quickly became an aristocratic tramp. 

ANALYSIS:

Kazuko, our main character, is an idle, sentimental woman who tends to sacrifice herself for the people she values. The name “Kazuko”, closely resembles Kazoku, standing for the post war aristocratic class that would be abolished. Her character represents this decline as she struggles to adapt to the drastic shift to middle class life and eventually reignites her will to live. Furthermore, the name Kazuko also refers to “child of the sun”, and may imply her character arc ending in hope and rebirth as the sun sets on the aristocratic class, but it could also imply (spoilers ahead) the birth of her child at the end of the story, motivating her to live on. 

Naoji, Kazuko’s troubled younger brother, also embodies this class struggle, which is demonstrated in his reluctance to find success in life because of his shame for being born an aristocrat. He responds by indulging in alcohol and drugs which results in him placing the burden of extreme debt onto his remaining family. Stating that, “I ran riot and threw myself into wild diversions out of the simple desire to escape from my shadow–being an aristocrat…” (spoilers) At the end of the story, he takes his own life as a final apology for leading a self proclaimed pointless existence. 

Kazuko and Naoji both represent the class’s decline, except their stories end differently demonstrating the stark contrast in mindset between aristocrats who could versus couldn’t transition smoothly after world war 2. 

Additionally, the story thrives off symbolism. The snakes in the Setting Sun are shown as omens after the death of Kazuko’s father and serve to terrify her and her mother, representing their fears of moving forward. Snakes undergo a process called shedding which allows them to repair damaged scales and accommodate growth. In the novel, it may represent the new era of Japan. Post war aristocrats turned away from luxurious lives and towards middle class work. However they maintained social influence by joining new upper class circles, representing the rebirth of a new societal class structure. 

The Setting Sun, by Osamu Dazai, captures the essence of post war Japan and the aristocratic transition to middle class life. It’s a bite-sized read packed with delicious prose and satisfying symbolism. Whether you know Dazai from Bungo Stray Dogs or No Longer Human, The Setting Sun is definitely a book worth investing in for any and all readers looking to delve into his works or just to explore some well crafted storytelling.