「一個女子」是由前後編組成的長編小說，一向被視為是有島武郎的代表作，前編連載於雜誌「白樺」的「一個女子的驚鴻一瞥」（明治44.1∼大正 2.3、1910.1∼1912.3），之後於大正8年3月（1919.3）經改題改作加上後編而一氣完稿的大作。有關女主人翁葉子的毀滅理由到現今的研究史均指向她自己本身的性格所導致的悲劇，前編是以圍繞她身邊 -- 亦即當時的基督教世界的偽善的挑戰為主，而後編的焦點則放在葉子本身內在欲求的「本能的生活」為主。在種種說法中尤其以葉子的性格問題最具爭議，大致分為下列三大學說： （1）娼婦型的女性因「肉．性慾」的性衝動、淫亂行為產生的悲劇。 （2）自由人（loafer）的典型--「靈肉一致願望的本能主義」和對基督教信仰的既定觀念的對決，亦即由「靈與肉．聖經與性慾」的二元對立觀點視之。 （3）由與「社會．他者」的關連性來觀察葉子的「真誠．誠實」的內心態度。 本論文將以上三項觀點之（１）項列為女主人翁之表像行為帶過，由（２）（３）項觀點以葉子「個人的主體性」、「性．肉體愛」、對他者的「共鳴．同情」等三個框架綜論她個人的生活態度和她所極力追求的「自由人（loafer）的生活態度」之間的差異點來探討葉子毀滅的理由。

　　　　　The book "Single Women", a long story novel compiled into 2 parts, is the most representative production by author Arishima Takeo. The first part of the story was published under the article "A glance of a woman's life" in the magazine Pai-Hua during January 1910-March 1912. The completion of the novel took place in March 1919 that the second part of the story was added onto the first part after some mild modification. The reasons for the destructive end of the Main character-Yoh Ko-are widely discussed in the ancient literature studies today, and the finding from the studies had come to conclusion that her personality was the sole cause for the tragedy. While the first part of the story concentrated on the her surroundings-a fictitious and phony conflicting environment of the predominant Christian religion, the second part emphasized on her internal desires-instinctive behaviors. Among all the criticisms, her personality had brought on the most arguments, which are broadly categorized into three prepositions: 1.Prostitution behavior-her strong sexual drives and unrestrained conducts caused her the tragic end. 2.Loafer behavior-conceptual conflicts between "sex and soul-instinctive principles" and "traditions and doctrines of Christianity". 3.Observations from third person and society perspectives-the truthfulness, undisguised and honesty reflections within her beliefs and spirits. In this study, we will examine Yoh Ko on how she appeared and presented herselfto the world (the first preposition). From second and third prepositions, we will look into three frameworks-"Individualistic Entity","Sexual Love Addiction" and "Synchronization, Sensitive and Sympathy toward others"-to explore the differences in her life attitudes and "Loafer beliefs" that had led to her ruinous ending.