Zorba
the
Greek:
a
Jungian
analysis


In
the
movie
“Zorba
the
Greek”,
based
on
novel
written
by
the
Greek
author
Nikos

Kazantzakis,
each
of
the
main
characters
can
be
understood
as
a
representation
of
the

elements
of
the
human
psyche.
The
author
uses
the
interactions
between
the
nameless

poet,
the
rascal

Zorba,
the
lonely
widow
and
Mme
Hortense
as
a
metaphor
for
every

artist’s
attempt
(in
this
case,
a
poet)
at
integration
(ie.
individuation)
and
a
reconnection

with
his
creative
forces.


The
poet,
a
half
Greek
Englishman,
represents
the
persona
of
the
archetypical
man:

reasonable,
educated
and
driven
by
logical
motivations.
Because
he
is
no
longer
connected

to
the
other
elements
of
his
personality,
his
creative
energy
has
dried
up;
he
hasn’t
written

poetry
in
many
months.
He
is
returning
to
Crete,
perhaps
to
find
himself,
and
to
re‐open
a

mine
that
has
been
in
his
family’s
possession
for
generations.

The
character
of
Zorba
represents
the
shadow
figure,
or
trickster.
Alexis
Zorba
is

passionate,
uncontrollable,
lascivious
and
a
great
lover
of
life
in
a
way
that
the
poet
cannot

be.
While
the
viewer
may
initially
see
these
men
as
two
different
people,
they
represent

elements
of
the
archetypal
man:
the
rational
outer
persona
and
the
impulsive
inner

shadow.


The
women
in
the
film
(and
novel)
are
representations
of
the
anima,
or
female
principle

that
the
poet
must
come
to
understand
and
integrate
or
be
unfulfilled.
The
widow
(the
Eve

element)
and
Madame
Hortense
(the
Helen
element)
are
different
incarnations
of
this

powerful
force.
(1)

In
the
story,
the
poet
is
heading
for
Crete
in
order
to
re‐open
a
failed
lignite
mine.
(The

island
can
be
understood
as
a
“type”
for
the
cradle
of
civilization
and
thus
of
artistic

expression
and
personality;
Crete
is
also
referred
to
as
“the
cradle
of
music
and
dance.”)(2)

This
is
highly
symbolic
in
Jungian
terms.
Lignite
is
a
form
of
soft
coal
that
is
used
in
this

part
of
the
world
as
an
energy
source.
The
author
of
the
story
is
taking
us
into
the
personal,

and
collective
unconscious
of
the
poet
(ie.
the
mine)
to
open
up
the
deep
creative
forces

that
have
dried
up.
(Remember,
he
has
been
unable
to
compose
poetry
for
months.)
And

because
the
poet
(persona)
is
employing
Zorba
(the
trickster
character)
to
be
the
foreman,

we
see
the
critical
role
that
the
shadow
nature
plays
in
re‐connecting
with
the
elemental

energy
of
the
unconscious.
Without
Zorba,
there
can
be
no
mine,
no
energy,
no
success.

The
movie
(and
novel)
portrays
the
archetypal
metaphorical
journey
of
an
artist,

recounting
the
reintegration
of
persona,
anima
and
shadow.

It
is
through
this
re‐
integration
that
he
is
able
to
connect
with
the
primordial
creative
forces
that
make
his
Art
a

possibility.




Endnotes:

1.
Anima
and
animus.
(n.d.).
Wikipedia.
Retrieved
May
12,
2009,
from
Answers.com
Web

site:
http://www.answers.com/topic/anima‐and‐animus

2.
Cretan
Musical
Tradition,
Retrieved
May
12,
2009,
from

http://www.cretanmusic.gr/index.php?file=history_page&cat=51&pageid=86