The Bet

The Bet, Anton Chekhov

Summary

The Bet by Anton Chekhov tells the story of a banker and a young lawyer who engage in a reckless bet with life-altering consequences.  It all begins at a party hosted by the banker, where a debate arises about the morality of capital punishment versus life imprisonment. The banker argues that capital punishment is more humane, while the lawyer insists that any life is better than none.  Their heated discussion escalates into a bet: the banker wagers two million rubles that the lawyer cannot endure fifteen years of solitary confinement. The lawyer, confident in his convictions, accepts the challenge.

The lawyer spends his years in confinement immersed in books, studying languages, philosophy, and various sciences. He undergoes a profound transformation, experiencing a wide range of emotions and intellectual pursuits. Meanwhile, the banker, initially unconcerned about the bet, faces financial ruin over the years and realises that he cannot afford to pay the two million rubles if the lawyer wins.

Desperate, the banker contemplates killing the lawyer to avoid bankruptcy. However, on the eve of the lawyer's release, the banker discovers a letter written by the lawyer renouncing the money. The lawyer, through his years of isolation and study, has come to despise material wealth and the shallowness of human pursuits. He escapes from his confinement hours before the bet is up, forfeiting his claim to the money.

The story concludes with the banker, deeply affected by the lawyer's renunciation, hiding the letter and vowing to honour his debt.  The Bet explores themes of freedom, the meaning of life, and the corrosive nature of wealth and pride. It offers a profound reflection on the human condition and the consequences of our choices.

Questions