Zorba the Greek

Zorba stays in Iraklio for longer than three stays. On the sixth day, the narrator receives a letter in which Zorba declares he doesn’t care about anything save being alive or dead. Zorba writes, “old age is a huge disgrace” (153). He feels that he is young at heart. This version of him fights against his outer, old exterior. He wants to successfully build the cable railway because failure means disgrace. He mentions that he lives life with no hesitation, just doing as he wishes. He feels free in Iraklio, so he goes to a cafe. There he meets Lola, a woman who at first calls him “grandpa.” Zorba assuages his offense by seducing her with his money. Eventually, she asks him to spend the night with her.

Zorba spends the rest of his time in Iraklio having an affair with Lola, indolently looking for the building materials. Zorba closes the letter by describing how Lola wanted to go to a festival while Zorba wanted to stay in. He urges her to go alone, but she refuses. Zorba tells her she is free, but she argues she does not want to be free. Zorba asks the narrator, if human beings are defined by freedom, then are women human beings? The narrator does not know how to feel about Zorba’s letter.