Session 17

Alexis Zorba by Nikos Kazantzakis and Flow

Alexis Zorba is the main character of the masterpiece written by Nikos Kazantzakis

-          Alexis Zorba, Nikos Kazantzakis

-          Norwegian Book Club best 100

-          The Guardian

In some ways, this is the Ultimate Hero, an Ubermensch

There is also a film that you could see, also a chef d'oeuvre, with:

-          Anthony Quinn, Alan Bates and Irene Papas

-          Inspiring, magnificent, phenomenal

-          If we could insert the music here? It might add to the overall effect

This super-man had a fantastic zest for life, which he enjoyed with

-          Maximum intensity

-          Vivre a fond

-          Joie de vivre in a spectacular form

All the positivity elements were to be found in this Demi God, who also had a series of flaws

-          Amusement , interest, hope

-          Inspiration, pride, serenity

-          Awe, gratitude, joy and

-          Above all...Love!

And these are not the only strengths.

-          Alexis Zorba has a number of Signature strengths

-          Courage, good sense of justice

-          Resilience, to name just a few

His acts are mostly as his words and values...

When a widow is abused by primitive, retrograde villagers, Zorba the Greek jumps to defend her

He protects another woman, for he seems to worship them, Bubulina (check, I am not sure this was her name)

There is more that we can learn from this phenomenal account...

-          Furthermore, he has a very strong will

At one time, he found that he loves cherries too much

Trying to avoid being too much of a Hedonist, although he did not put it in that formula, he decided to get rid of the habit

In other words, we have here the determination of a man to eliminate a bad habit

He ate so many cherries that they made him sick and after that, he could not stand them anymore

Of course, this is extreme.

Albeit in a crude, rudimentary way, this hero has put a stop to what was becoming an addiction

-          According to Barbara Fredrikson, love is very important

-          Barbara Fredrikson – Positivity

-          She has identified the elements

-          The ratio: 3 to 1

-          Love is the  most important of the ten ingredients

Zorba the Greek seems to have known that

-          Zorba the Greek was aware of signature strengths?

-          He loved and respected women

-          No woman should be left to suffer

-          He was in pain when his friend and employer did not respond to the messages sent by the widow of the village.

-          “Das ewig weibliche zieht uns hinan »

-          Faust, Goethe