“The Bet”, by Aton Chekhov is a short story that has an ironic twist on the value of human life. Presented with two intertwined characters, the banker and the lawyer, display two different halves of the “bet”. The banker and the lawyer wager a bet that is constructed on life imprisonment and the death penalty. The “bet” displays the morality of the two men. The lawyer endures confinement for fifteen years but comes into contact with his morality because although he has gained so much knowledge he is incoherent to the world. The banker rejects his own morality as he places two million dollars for the confinement of the lawyer. Chekhov demonstrates certain stages of confinement the lawyer experiences and one can only wonder why Chekhov ends the short story in an ironic way.
For the next fifteen years the lawyer was confined to the banker’s backyard. He was restricted from the outside world and if the lawyer attempts an escape then he will automatically lose the “bet”. Fifteen years later, Chekhov paints an interesting scenario; the banker is close to bankruptcy and cannot pay the lawyer if he happens to win the “bet”. Ironically, a few hours before the lawyer wins the “bet”, he leaves a letter for the banker stating he plans to lose the “bet”. In the letter, the lawyer stats: “I despise wisdom and the blessings of this world. It is all worthless, fleeting, illusory, and deceptive, like a mirage.” During his confinement, the lawyer progresses from stages of loneliness, depression, and isolation. He comes across many works of literature that become his window to life. He has been able to connect to life through poetry, philosophical, theological, and historical books. All his books have changed his perceptions, improved his knowledge, and develop himself as a person. The lawyer runs away and terminates his chance to win the “bet”.
The “bet” posed a constant clash between life confinement and death. As the lawyer admitted, due to his fifteen years of suffering he loathed everything in life. Ultimately, the lawyer had lost the “bet” because of his violation of the rules. However, indirectly he had won the “bet” because he gained more knowledge during his confinement. The lawyer states he would have much rather died than to slowly suffer during fifteen years of his confined life.
For the next fifteen years the lawyer was confined to the banker’s backyard. He was restricted from the outside world and if the lawyer attempts an escape then he will automatically lose the “bet”. Fifteen years later, Chekhov paints an interesting scenario; the banker is close to bankruptcy and cannot pay the lawyer if he happens to win the “bet”. Ironically, a few hours before the lawyer wins the “bet”, he leaves a letter for the banker stating he plans to lose the “bet”. In the letter, the lawyer stats: “I despise wisdom and the blessings of this world. It is all worthless, fleeting, illusory, and deceptive, like a mirage.” During his confinement, the lawyer progresses from stages of loneliness, depression, and isolation. He comes across many works of literature that become his window to life. He has been able to connect to life through poetry, philosophical, theological, and historical books. All his books have changed his perceptions, improved his knowledge, and develop himself as a person. The lawyer runs away and terminates his chance to win the “bet”.
The “bet” posed a constant clash between life confinement and death. As the lawyer admitted, due to his fifteen years of suffering he loathed everything in life. Ultimately, the lawyer had lost the “bet” because of his violation of the rules. However, indirectly he had won the “bet” because he gained more knowledge during his confinement. The lawyer states he would have much rather died than to slowly suffer during fifteen years of his confined life.
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