Zorba the Con Man?

Maybe it is today's cynical age, but did Zorba strike anyone else as a bit....shifty? Throughout the film, nearly all the trouble Basil finds himself in Zorba bears the blame or at least a part part of the responsibility.

- Zorba convinces Basil to put him, a complete stranger, in charge of the mine.
- Zorba encourages Basil to pursue the Widow despite knowing how tense the situation was with the other villagers. Zorba probable underestimated the reactions, but he had a much better idea than Basil of how the villagers would respond.
- Zorba is entrusted with a large sum of money for the mine. Basil makes it clear it is out of his own pocket and all he has. Instead of spending it for its purpose, Zorba spends it on himself for no good reason. When he returns he has gifts, were they truly gifts or a way of trying to buy off people since Zorba knew what he did was wrong?
- Madame Hortense: Zorba pursued a relationship with her, knew her sad history, forgot about her, and brags to Basil about Lola. Basil was right. What did Zorba think Basil should have done?
- Zorba needs the forest owned by the monestary so he tricks the monks into thinking a miracle has occurred and then befriending them to get the trees.
- Zorba's zip line broke. Was it due to faulty construction or did Zorba buy substandard parts because he spent all the money he was supposed to have used on himself?
- Zorba's family. We are told the eldest child died, but what about the others and his wife? Did the children grow up? Did his wife die? Did Zorba abandon them to live his own life?

So by the end Basil has witnessed some of the worst of humanity, his family mine is useless, and he is broke.

The story of the film is supposed to be Basil coming out of his shell and learning to live life to the fullest while confronting everything with a smile sort of like Zorba. Yet through it all Zorba chastises Basil for overthinking things while Zorba acts without thought to the consequence. Yes, a few times Zorba warned Basil of the risks, but Zorba is a very charming, charismatic fellow which I think he knows.

At worst, Zorba comes off as a con man who is all too willing to live life to the fullest and take risks so long as it is on on someone else's dime.

At best, Zorba is someone who means well, but hurts people through his thoughtless actions and does not realize it until after the damage is done or someone confronts him about it.

In the end, if Basil is too withdrawn and prone to thinking about his actions Zorba is the opposite extreme. He acts without thinking or caring. In a weird way, the two need each one to balance the other.

I applaud Anthony Quinn for his magnificent performance. Zorba is a truly likable fellow. Yet I can't help but feel there is something dark about him. Either he is truly ignorant of the ramifications of his actions or he is aware and does not really care.