On Dazai’s treatment of Akutagawa and Atsushi
Dazai’s treatment towards Akutagawa is downright manipulative. But is it necessary? Meanwhile, Dazai’s teaching methods for Atsushi, though still involving manipulation, seem much more patient and tolerant. I have some thoughts regarding why this may be the case:
1. Given the circumstances, manipulating Akutagawa was the fastest way to achieve results.
Akutagawa sprung into action the moment Dazai ordered him to during the capture of the rats. While Atsushi was still protesting, Akutagawa didn’t even need any convincing whatsoever. Given his low self-esteem and his high regard for Dazai, Akutagawa never even blamed Dazai for his suffering, or doubted Dazai’s judgment. Dazai knew this, and I imagine he must have considered how much simpler it would be to give Akutagawa an order from God, than to have a heart to heart talk with him about how he should learn to value himself more and let go of Dazai’s shadow.
2. Dazai really doesn’t know any other way to treat Akutagawa, or to help him grow.
Akutagawa’s strength in combat is beyond question. Dazai may have been manipulative, but it was because he thought allowing Akutagawa to use his strength was a good way for him to grow. This is especially true at the time that Dazai picked him up, since to become stronger was Akutagawa’s greatest chance of survival in the mafia. Now, even after four years had passed, Dazai doesn’t know any other way to teach Akutagawa. The boy has been soaked to the bones with violence, and Dazai himself has had too much blood on his hands to think of another, healthier way, even if he does truly care for Akutagawa. And I believe he does, because after all they have gone through, Akutagawa doesn’t seem the least afraid of Dazai. He yearns for his acknowledgement, and he wants it for himself, not out of fear but out of his own self-gratification. I believe Dazai does not wish to torture Akutagawa for fun, and Akutagawa does not think of Dazai’s actions as evil or unnecessarily cruel. He is strong enough now to stand up for himself, if only he wishes to. He is no longer afraid of Dazai’s punishment, nor is he afraid to beat Dazai to a pulp. In a way, he willingly holds on to that longing because it gives him a desire to live and to fight.
Akutagawa doesn’t know any other way to live, and Dazai doesn’t know how to help him. Which makes Atsushi’s contribution extremely important.
3. Dazai’s teaching adapts itself to the audience in question.
While both of them have frighteningly low expectations of themselves, Atsushi’s exposure to violence taught him to value kindness, while Akutagawa learnt to value strength above everything else.
This may be the key reason why Dazai’s attitude towards these boys are so fundamentally different. Dazai adapted his teaching methods to produce the greatest results possible with his prodigies. With Atsushi, he knew violence would just bring him to hate himself even more, which would not allow him to come to terms with his ability and therefore not produce desired results. Kindness would be a much more effective method, which would help Atsushi come to terms with himself and allow himself to be in harmony with his ability. With Akutagawa, the issue with his ability was not how to control and reconcile with it, but how to use its full potential. Dazai knew Akutagawa had tremendous potential, but not the maturity to fully use it. That’s why he chose the fastest method: a fucking survival camp.
The result of Dazai’s teaching in these two boys is made painfully clear to us: while Atsushi sees Dazai as an empowering figure, a source of guidance to help him believe in himself, Akutagawa relies on Dazai’s existence to verify his own, and never once questions him.
“Those who tried to understand Dazai-san all hit a dead end. He decided this combination would produce the best result, there is no need to question it.”
“In this kind of situation, what would Dazai-san do?”
4. Dazai doesn’t think of himself as a good mentor, but he believes he has to train Akutagawa and Atsushi out of necessity. Hence the manipulative methods towards both.
With Atsushi, there is indication that Dazai is actually willing to go the extra mile to help him escape his own self-pity pit. When Dazai offers his heart felt advice, he stops being just a trainer, and becomes Atsushi’s genuine pillar for guidance and support. (It is my secret hope that Dazai’s trying to become for Atsushi what Oda was for him.)
With Akutagawa, that sort of advice would not have the same effect. At the same time, Dazai wasn’t in any shape to give anyone emotional support when Akutagawa needed it the most, so he resorted to action instead. Dazai may also have realized that he is not the best person to help pull Akutagawa out of that deep darkness, so he might have teamed Atsushi up with him to fill in that space. Dazai is trying to do for Atsushi what he thinks Oda might have done, but he couldn’t do that for Akutagawa. There is no undoing what he did, but he hopes Atsushi can teach Akutagawa what he couldn’t.
