You can appreciate Kazantzakis’ influences of Nietzche, Eastern philosophy, and a tremendous ambition to respond to our own dualisms; which probably were huge during the post war.
Yes - his life was a series of violent shifts between philosophies/ideologies/faiths, and that struggle added to the richness of the book. He had an amazing and restless mind.
I believe Kazantzakis employed a return to the historical moral arena, much like Nietzsche did in his Thus Spoke Zarathustra. It’s such a shame a lot of religious people can’t be open minded enough to view works of art like The Last Temptation of Christ but then, we are all on different paths. Nonetheless, I am reminded of a thought by Wilde about jumping to conclusions and thinking the worst. I loved this review by the way and I’m wondering if you’d record a review on Salome, the play by Oscar Wilde? It was banned in Great Britain until the early 1930s.
Thanks Dale! Always look forward to your comments. Interestingly enough, Nietzsche was one of Kazantzakis biggest inspirations. You can see a fair amount of his influence in this book and ironically (you know, with “god is dead” and all) in the character of Katzantzakis’ Christ - who functions as a kind of ‘superman’ taking on the worlds problems and transforming them out of sheer will. I think Kazantzakis, like the protagonist in this story, was a great man torn between 2 natures - struggling to reconcile the wild spirituality he shared with someone like Christ, with the objectivity and intellect of someone like Nietzche. That endless tension and battle playing out in him is what makes his writing so alive. And yes! We will definitely be doing Wilde in the future. Will take a look at the play you mentioned, the only Wilde I know is Dorian Gray…
@@bannedbookclub I’m delighted to read how you’ll take a look at Salome. To be honest, I love everything Wilde wrote, I think he was a creative genius. Lady Windermere’s Fan and The Importance of Being Earnest are magical in their examination of social obligations. Thank you for the content you upload.
There seems to be some misunderstanding about the language that Kazantzakis uses. "Dimotiki" (which roughly translates to "people's language") is not a bridge to modern Greek, it is the modern Greek language. "Katharevousa" ("cleaned up") is the bridge between ancient Greek and modern Greek that you are talking about in your video and was an effort to get rid of foreign influences on the Greek language. Even though Kazantzakis is writing in dimotiki/modern Greek, some academics argue that his language is neither the one nor the other. It's a very unique language that he created: he molded new words (which could be understood through their roots) and expressed ideas with lyricism and poetic mastery. That's why his novels despite being technically written in "dimotiki"/modern Greek can be at times harder to follow than books that are written in "katharevousa" which on paper sits between modern and ancient Greek.
Very interesting talk ... Thank you! I just finished "God´s pauper" from Kazantzakis too, about St. Francis of Assisi. There are so much similarities! Also a great book :-)
Much appreciated. Didn't know about God's pauper, but thanks for leading us to more Kazantzakis work. We love his stuff and will be covering 'Christ Recrucified' in the future. Maybe pauper too!
If you want to read one of his novels where his language mastery is at full display you can read: "Report to Greco". Full disclosure: I have no idea whether the English translations capture the beauty of the expressions and the language of that book. P.S: I have tremendous respect for anyone that has even attempted to translate any of Kazantzakis' books to English. I can't fathom the amount of effort that is required in order to properly convey the imagery and lyricism.
luckily a friend just came back from a trip to Greece, now we have Report to Greco and Christ Re-crucified. Looking forward to covering both. As someone who can't read Greek, I loved the English translation. I'm sure it's not the same experience, but the fact that it was still so powerful in English is a testament to Kazantzaki's skill.
12:06 Well, he has a moment of worry before He is arrested, and He asks God: "If it be possible, let this cup pass from me." Last Temptation is basically a whole story of "let this cup pass from me."
The correct term for the more conservative “ancient” form of Greek is “Katharevousa”; “Dimotiki” is the vernacular language. Just letting you guys know. Great show
This was the book I read right after coming out of Lord of the Rings, when I was 11, so Jesus's disciples and co came across in my imagination very much akin to the inhabitants of Hobbiton and Middle Earth: funny little creatures, feckless then fortitudinous. They all seemed so relatable, unlike anything I had read or heard about Jesus before. NK said he wrote it so that people could love Christ. This time was also the early stages of my journey with Christ....although (perhaps unsurprisingly) I never did become a Christian.
I read The Last Temptation of Christ shortly after it was translated into English, but The Greek Passion impressed me more at the time. The villagers under Turkish rule were permitted to put on a passion play, during which someone murdered the young boy the Turkish governor is in love with. He demands that the murderer be exposed so he can be executed. Manolios, the one portraying Christ in the play, voluntarily takes on the sin of the murderer. He is betrayed (or accused and doesn't deny it -- can't recall the details) by the villager playing Judas. There is a practical benefit being developed in The Greek Passion That is, one is blessed if he is enabled to imitate Christ. The Last Temptation of Christ seems more theological, which is good. Some place it is written that Christ was tempted in all respects as we are, but was without sin. The Fundamentalists of all denominations need to have their understanding of the term "temptation" enhanced. I recall also reading Freedom or Death and liking it next to The Greek Passion -- after which I would place The Last Temptation. I didn't like Zorba The Greek at all. -- can't recall if I read anything else by him. The fact that Zorba was the most popular novel in English soured me on my fellow man. But, inasmuch as I did not finish it, perhaps I am wrong. I never pursued the matter. I thought you two did an excellent job.
Have had trouble getting my hands on the Greek Passion, but have always been fascinated by the concept - people playing the cast of the gospels in a play, brilliant idea! Kazantzakis is a master of writing about the spiritual, wrestling with it, making it real - a lot like Rilke but with more of a fixation on the character of Christ. Thank you for engaging with the episode - will definitely be covering more Kazantzakis in the future - but not Zorba - not a fan of Zorba either.
It was the Church herself, through many councils, who stressed the humanity of Christ. Since early on, from the days of Docetism and the Gnostics, who wanted to make Christ into a pure spirit, who only appeared human... or the other way around, that Christ was just a human who realized God(some kind of sage). The Orthodox Faith of the Catholic Church, always warned against these extreme views, to rationalize Christ was anathema. It taught that he was both fully man, and fully God, without any fusion, confusion, or blending. It doesn't sound like Kazantzakis is saying anything other than this. Great conversation! Thanks, I just ordered this book.... "The hypostatic union, or the union of the divine and human natures in the One Person of the Word, the God-Man, Jesus Christ, was not only a truth of the greatest, most revolutionary, and most existential actuality, but it was the central truth of all being and all history." ~ Thomas Merton
Thank's for the thoughtful comment, I think you're outlining two basic heresies within Christianity; Arianism (denial of the spiritual) and Gnosticism (rejection of the material/human aspect). The book does a phenomenal job of broadening the scope of his character beyond either of these limitations. And it's interesting that you mention Merton. I've been trying to get into mysticism literature and he seems to be a name that keeps popping up. I was thinking of covering New Seeds of Contemplation, but didn't know if that was the best place to start. Any recommendations?
@@bannedbookclub to start, I'd say an Eastern Orthodox named Sophrony of Essex. He's a saint and mystic from the 20th century. A profound soul. As far as Merton, New Seeds is a good place for his mysticism, but Seven Story Mountain(his autobiography) is a spiritual masterpiece.
I'm a Christian and I LOVE the movie. It's actually in my Top 10 favorite Bible-based movies, I have the book, and I tried to read it, but it spends a lot of time being like "the desert is dry, the air is windy"- not those words but same idea. I might try it again with your guy's insights. :)
I highly recommend you to read the book carefully and try to appreciate its poetic language. There is also a very nice and helpful book that might help you understand it much better, which also includes a little essay written by Scorsese himself. The book is called: 'Scandalizing Jesus?: Kazantzakis's The Last Temptation Of Christ Fifty Years On'.
Kazantzakis's entire opus is one of struggling with faith, with understanding the world, and appreciating why people do what they do. His Report to Greco, which can only really be referred to as a memoir, catalogues his processing of faith and how it changed over time. I have to believe that Niko read or was exposed to the history of Gnostic gospels which have varying interpretations and spins on the life and teachings of Jesus; in this way, they are like the myths of most ethnic groups - while the general plot of many of these myths are somewhat standardized, there are differences depending on the source, and what the audience needed at that time. The Last Temptation is what was needed.
That's what I've always heard about Greco and I wanted to dive into it immediately after TLTOC. It was tough to track down a copy, but now that we have one we're planning on covering it this year. No other author can compare to his ability to describe that sense of spiritual combat, of living simultaneously in the material/immaterial world and struggling to reconcile the infinite with the finite. Truly one of the most inspired and talented authors we've covered here. So glad to know he can still resonate with others -- thank you for the engagement
I was one of the people who crossed the picket line to see the movie version back in 1988. For all the fiery controversy the movie generated, I would learn it was just simply a movie. Nothing more. But as a result of the movie, the book was put back into print, so I went ahead and bought it. I had no problems with that beings I would learn that the book is in fact required reading in a lot of religious schools. To skip to the chase: I wanted the book to just keep going. It is the most intelligent and sincerely religious book I have ever read. Yeah, Judas was made out to look good, but I saw it that it only made Jesus look better. And though I'm no religious expert by any means, because of this book I wanted to learn more about Jesus and his teachings - which I think was one of the reasons Kazantzakis wrote it. If I'm going to hell for it, so be it. Because in 1999 I saw the movie away from the controversy and saw that like the book, it is the most intelligent religious movie ever made, and have watched the movie 8 times since. Oh, and I have read about 5 of Kazanzatkis' other works and remains one of my favorite authors.
I’m an orthodox Christian and I love the book. It’s one of my favorites. It’s historical fiction not a biography like the gospels . It’s blasphemy but not blasphemy that most think. The struggle of Christ is interesting and dark. But the blasphemy is Christ who is the human deity of God is a sinner. Meaning not perfect , he argues with his father , he needs Judas and his other apostles help to figure things out. Nikos believed God needed man just as much as we need God. Yes that is blasphemy. But it’s interesting blasphemy. It made me think and made me love christ all the more to show that despite him being perfect he surly struggled he was fully man as well. This work paved way for shows today like the chosen or gospel according to biff which show Christ’s human side in not blasphemous ways. My only complaint truly with the book is how sexist Nikos was. Orthodoxy and Jesus are very progressive on the role of women. Christs and his apostles would not speak of women the way they do in the book. Sure the blasphemy made me upset but that was the point. The story was supposed to be very raw and human . I reread the book a lot . A true masterpiece in historical fiction.
Couldn't have said it better myself. This book humanized Christ in a way I had never seen in church or theological texts. It's a shame that the point of the whole thing goes over so many people's heads. Thank you for such a thoughtful response.
@@ZacharySiple Well, you have to bare in mind that whenever someone talks about a book, a movie, a poem, a story etc. may slightly modify what he thinks that he's read. It happens (unfortunately) all the time. I understand your objection (or ever your disappointment?) but so it is. However, well done that you did search in the book itself, in order to find the scene as the author wrote it. So must be done.
I read this when I spent a summer in Greece in 2002. He takes the passage: "he [Jesus] was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin" idea and explores it beyond the biblical narrative, especially the sin of lust.
@theemptyatom given this movie was and still is controversial people don't talk about this movie at parties. Curious people watch RU-vid vids and read comments. So much disinformation is out about the movie I defend the movie when I see it and have the time. People will be reading comments for ages
I am fortunate to be able to speak, read, and write Greek. Having read " O Τελευταίος Πειρασμοσ" in the vernacular, and it is a MASTERPIECE. The English translation is sufficient but falls short of translating the emotional current of Kazantzakis and the characters. Demotic/Δημοτική is not the pure form of Greek, that would be Kαθαρευουσα. Also, the last temptation was not to have a physical relationship and mortal life, but rather to pass up the crucifixion. I'm surprised this distinction was missed in your analysis.
I know, I was wishing I could read the original language the whole time, sadly my Greek is very limited. I know some of the original power must have been lost in translation, but even in English it was a thrill to read. Also, I don't think we said the last temptation was simply to have a physical relationship. I don't think its the full picture either to say that it was just to pass up the crucifixion. The book shows that what christ was risking, what he had to come to terms with giving up - was being a normal human being and all that encompasses.
@@bannedbookclub Thank you so much for taking the time to respond. I went back and reviewed your analysis and agree that I misunderstood what you were saying. I applaud your review. I am looking forward to your next vlog. Take care.
One character of Kazantzakis’s work who passed under your radar, however, is Satan, insidious evil that appears in fantasy and flashback as a figment of imagination. It is not possible to live for long in the “material” world without encountering and probably falling victim to evil. In the novel and film, the evil one appears as a beautiful angelic child at the foot of the cross and tempts Christ a last time. Evil is an active presence in both book and film, so formidable that we fear to acknowledge him even in reviews!
We've been wanting to do something on Story of an Eye for a long time but were honestly a little afraid to approach it. Didn't know if it would alienate too many people. I think we’ll try it now. Thanks for giving us the push we needed 👊
@@bannedbookclub Many of my fellow writers in my circle all discuss it, and it’s been discussed on podcasts before, so I say go for it! You guys seem quite worried about the response, but you’ll dig your own grave if you constantly worry about what others say. Plus, Bataille has way more valuable stuff other than Story of the Eye. His book ‘Eroticism’ is absolutely fascinating!
I was listening to this guy on RU-vid reading this book and you can tell the dude had a few issues with the book as well.I personally thought the movie was like the Biblical version of It's a Wonderful Life a little bit.
Right, this is why there's so much tension when Kazantzakis contrasts that side with his more human side. that kind of conflict in the character isnt explored much in the Bible, but it worked great in the novel.
