Unnamed throughout the book, the narrator is scholar who is constantly chastised by his friends for valuing books over first-hand experience. With his closest friend at sea fighting for the Greek cause, this narrator resolves to create his own active destiny. He leases a lignite mine on Crete, and, before leaving for the island, hires Zorba to act as foreman based on a zesty first impression made in a bar. He comes to admire Zorba for his passionate, instinctual approach to life, unencumbered by the learned and esoteric thoughts that hold the narrator's life in check. Throughout the book, as the narrator witnesses Zorba in action, he holds this character in greater awe and reverence, yet he can never fully emulate this friend's behavior. As he matures, though, he comes to incorporate some of.....
This is a free excerpt of 135 words. This section contains 1,546 words. This
study guide contains 16,700 words (approx. 56 pages at 300
words per page).
Read the rest of this Literature Guide with our Zorba the Greek Access Pass.
