Nikos Kazantzakis is one of my favorite authors.
"Zorba the Greek" stands out for its philosophical life energy.
I had an existential literature class in my senior year of high school. Taught by a wonderful teacher, the year after she had a spiritual Experience
Which focused her instruction and subject matter toward philosophy.During the course (pun alert!) of the the semester, we read
Camus, Sartre, Hesse, Kafka, De Beauvoir, Frankl, Kierkegaard, & Kazantzakis...
After more authors than I've listed above, we had a final examination
In which we had to order from a list of 10, which author most Exemplified the freedom of being which existentialism propounds.This thoughtful and well-versed teacher gave what looked to be a Simple test.
She had her own list used as the gold standard for grading purposes.
Turned out I got a 90%, which wasn't bad, but I felt inside that I had Good reasons for the ordering I chose.I made an appointment to go in and speak with her about my score.
I had never done anything like that before in high school:
A mature, conscious discussion with a mentor.
First time.Previously I just acted out, like writing a physics poem
on the reverse side of my physics test, turning it in with all questions Blank.
Please note that physics was - and still is - one of my favorite subjects,
But I had disagreed with the methods the teacher used to teach it.Like I knew the first thing about what it was like to teach... then.
I only knew what it was like to learn... or not.
And what I thought it should feel like.So I went to meet my existential literature teacher in person,
Having the greatest respect for her and her methods,
I said I would like to discuss my reasoning for choosing Kazantzakis
As my number one author of existential thinking.She showed me her list.
It was exactly the same as mine, only with
Our first and last choices transposed.
Her first was Sartre and last was Kazantzakis.Based on my thought process and explanation - that existentialism
Can lead the free being in any direction with validity, I felt & thought
Why choose misery when you can
Choose to live, to love, to dance with pure joy...
Like Zorba lived his life.She gave me full points, but it was more than that.With her openness she gave me a love for discussion that continues
To lead me to ferret out the meaning of things... for my understanding. This is what I consider one of the most beautiful film endings
Ever.I wish that it was completely pristine and of clear quality.
Mostly I'm just grateful to see it again.