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1. Argument from incredulity
2. Spurious science
3. Selective quotation
4. “If I don’t, somebody rise will”
5. The existentialist fallacy

The title is mentioned again on page 83.

Page 60 is where he actually uses the title of the book.

The constant start-stop of actual narrative made me realize that what Yozo is doing doesn’t actually matter. The point of this book, for now at least, is the ranting of Dazai. I think what he wants to achieve is some level of irony. Which, I believe, isn’t a super common device used in Japanese literature, even now. Hence, the comment about “western style.”

“Time to face the facts…” so he’s acknowledged the rants about his own writing. He says there is an ulterior motive, but not to trust anything he says. He also says he wants to be the first Japanese author to employ such a “western style” and that he wants recognition.

“It was only natural for Yozo to vacillate when asked about the reasoning behind his suicide—it was everything to him.”

Maybe the commentary is meant to be self-deprecating?

Maybe there’s some purpose to his commentary? He says now he’s going to give a few “panoramic vignettes.” Maybe the whole purpose of this book is a character study of Yozo Oba? So, let’s see how this goes.

Just got to page 20. I’m not sure how I feel about Dazai giving meta-commentary on his own writing in the middle of the story. Like, Douglas Adam’s could pull it off but I’m not sure that it really works here. 🤷‍♀️