The Bet by Anton Chekov

Summary

In Anton Chekhov's 'The Bet,' a banker and a young lawyer debate the merits of the death penalty versus life imprisonment. The lawyer, wagering he can endure 15 years of solitary confinement, undergoes a profound transformation. Initially, he finds solace in music and literature, but over time, his experiences lead him to reject worldly knowledge and wealth. Upon release, he renounces the bet's prize, revealing a disdain for materialism and a deeper understanding of life's true values, leaving the banker in a state of introspection and regret.

Takeaways

• 📚 Anton Chekhov's short tale 'The Bet' explores the ethical debate between the death penalty and life imprisonment.
• 💭 The banker and a young lawyer engage in a wager over whether life imprisonment is better than the death penalty.
• 🗣️ At a party, guests argue that the death penalty is antiquated and unethical, while the banker believes in its mercy.
• 🤔 An anonymous visitor challenges the state's authority to take life, suggesting both penalties are unethical.
• 🤝 The lawyer, initially agreeing with the visitor, prefers life imprisonment, leading to a high-stakes bet with the banker.
• 🏰 The lawyer is confined in the banker's mansion for 15 years, with strict rules but access to various forms of entertainment.
• 🎹 Initially, the lawyer plays the piano and reads light novels, avoiding alcohol and cigarettes to maintain clarity.
• 📚 Over time, his reading evolves, becoming more diverse and eventually focusing on the New Testament and scientific texts.
• 🧠 The lawyer's intellectual growth leads him to despise the world's benefits, seeing them as empty and transient.
• 💸 Despite the potential reward, the lawyer renounces the 2 million rubles, highlighting the impermanence of wealth and worldly pursuits.
• 😢 The banker, moved by the lawyer's transformation and renunciation, is left in deep reflection and emotional turmoil.

Q & A

What is the central wager in Anton Chekhov's short tale 'The Bet'?

The central wager in 'The Bet' is whether the death sentence is better or worse than life in prison, with a banker and a young lawyer engaging in this debate.

How does the anonymous visitor in the story view both death penalty and life imprisonment?

The anonymous visitor in the story argues that both the death penalty and life imprisonment are unethical since the state doesn't have the authority to take away something it can't return.

What is the initial duration of imprisonment the lawyer agrees to in the wager?

Initially, the lawyer agrees to be imprisoned for 5 years as part of the wager.

What does the banker offer the lawyer during dinner to dissuade him from the wager?

During dinner, the banker points out that the lawyer would be throwing away three or four of the greatest years of his life if he goes through with the imprisonment, but he stops short of saying much more than that.

What are the conditions of the lawyer's imprisonment in the banker's mansion?

The lawyer is kept in a garden wing of the banker's mansion, closely monitored, not allowed to leave, interact with anyone, or hear human voices. However, he is allowed to write letters requesting goods like books or wines, and activities like playing the piano, reading, and smoking are permitted.

How does the lawyer's attitude towards alcohol and smoking change during his imprisonment?

Initially, the lawyer abstains from drinking alcohol and smoking to avoid needing things he can't have and to prevent contaminating the air in his chamber. However, around the fifth year, he starts requesting alcohol again.

What significant realization does the lawyer come to in his sixth year of imprisonment?

In his sixth year, the lawyer expresses satisfaction in a letter to the banker for learning to comprehend the geniuses of the world in six different languages.

What does the lawyer decide to do with the 2 million rubles he would have won from the wager?

The lawyer decides to give up the 2 million rubles, as he comes to despise all of the world's benefits that he learned about through the books he read during his imprisonment.

How does the lawyer's perception of life change after 15 years of studying earthly existence?

After 15 years, the lawyer claims to have lived everything he's read about through books, and he despises learning and literature since they're nothing more than empty words to him. He believes that death will take away everything that is intelligent, proud, and lovely.

What action does the lawyer take at the end of the story to uphold the conditions of the wager?

The lawyer leaves his cell five hours early to ensure that the banker is legally excused from paying him the 2 million rubles, thus upholding the conditions of the wager.

What is the banker's emotional state at the end of the story, and what does he do with the lawyer's renunciation document?

The banker is deeply moved and sobs uncontrollably at the end of the story. He keeps the lawyer's renunciation document in his safe to prevent any unwanted rumors.