Ellie McConnell’s Reviews > No Longer Human > Status Update

Woah, he can feel “liberation and happiness” but it’s with a sad woman…who he then runs away from because he’s “wounded by happiness” :(

“When a man becomes half-mad, he will shake and shake and shake until he’s free of a woman.” Jeeeessusssss he resented her for seeing his true tortured self.

He writes that prison would be better than the life he’s living ?? :( A relationship with an older married woman?? Substance reliance. Poverty. This is so sad

Adding another vice to the mix: materialism. He’s desperately attempting to fill the void that comes from the disconnect from his true self. So sadddd, I can fix him!! (I’m SO joking btw).

All these girls showing interest in him through his life & he avoided it through negativity & didn’t let them go further, only to describe them as “undeveloped fragments” ????? Damn.

Outwardly admitting he’s just wrapped up in escapism & doesn’t see prostitutes as people but relies on them to self-soothe!? Insane

Now he’s befriended someone who he articulates experiences the same disconnect from humanity yet remains unaware of this condition. He doesn’t respect him, but his constant stimulation (yapper vibes & novelty-seeking) diverts him from his pain of existence. The author remains confined to living his life out of touch with his true self. You can only assume he’s too afraid to live in a world that he doesn’t.

The author well articulates the defensive split self. Interesting that he turns to art as an outlet for his “true self” & recognizes this as well. How painful it must be to not connect with the self that others see. I wonder about those who don’t have this same degree of self-awareness, are they more at peace? Because it seems like his self-awareness eats away at him as opposed to inspiring growth.

His academic gift & humour make him appear functional yet he’s battling with himself in every moment. Earlier in the novel he says his “clowning” is his last attempt at humanity. He befriends the one person who knows his secret because his greatest fear is that his defensive “clowning” will be revealed - truly sad.