Posted by 64bowtie on August 29, 2005, at 2:12:25
After re-watching the movie, "About Schmidt", followed by watching, "Zorba the Greek", for probably the 10th time, a little voice in my head wondered for the first time what the difference is between impulse and passion. I may have eventually discovered the importance of impulse management for a healthy and successful existence; however, you patiently nudged me forward, helping deal with impulsive behavior sooner instead of later.
Schmidt (Jack Nicholson) retires from a lifelong job of insurance actuarials (number crunching). He clearly has had many years pass lacking discernable passion. Zorba on the other hand is quoted, "You don't want trouble, Boss? A man must undo his belt and go look for trouble!" Zorba's appeal is his passion, his danger so to speak. The red flag for me isn't this passion for life and willingness to take on life, matter what. It's that Zorba is (for me now) dangerously impulsive, intermixed with his desirable passion.
I'm not the first person to analyze the Zorba character. People who see the movie agree that the writer (Nikos Kazansakis) has skillfully contrasted Zorba against several other characters as clearly a grand example of what it might mean to be "alive." Why he seems so alive is his seemingly unbridled humanness and passion for life.
Please consider this and help me find the impulsive/passionate balancing point, in principle; "in fact" would be helpful, too, as an example for clarity. This is worthwhile intuitively since most people seek passion and act impulsively, both recklessly. Balance can make both more effective in our lives.
I will be delighted with whatever you might sense as important in seeking this balance.
Rod
poster:64bowtie
thread:547972
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20050828/msgs/547972.html