The Bet is a short story written by Anton Chekhov in 1889. It tells the story of a wealthy banker and a young lawyer who engage in a bet over the question of whether or not life in solitary confinement is worse than death. The bet is initiated by the lawyer, who argues that he could endure two years of solitary confinement in exchange for a large sum of money. The banker accepts the bet and the lawyer is locked away in a specially-prepared room for two years.
As the days go by, the lawyer begins to regret his decision and longs for his freedom. He becomes depressed and anxious, and his mental health deteriorates significantly. Despite this, he persists in his confinement, determined to win the bet and prove that he can withstand the psychological torture of solitary confinement.
Meanwhile, the banker becomes consumed with guilt over his role in the bet and begins to see the true cost of his actions. He becomes increasingly convinced that the lawyer is suffering greatly and decides to release him from the bet early, offering to pay him the full amount of money regardless of the outcome.
The lawyer, however, refuses the offer and insists on completing the full two years of confinement. He eventually emerges from the room a broken and changed man, having lost all sense of hope and purpose.
The Bet serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of greed and the importance of empathy and compassion. It illustrates how our actions can have unintended consequences and how the pursuit of wealth and power can ultimately lead to suffering and loss. The story also highlights the fragility of the human psyche and the devastating effects that isolation and confinement can have on our mental health.
Overall, The Bet is a thought-provoking and poignant story that serves as a reminder of the importance of considering the well-being of others and the dangers of selfishness and greed.
A. Chekhov. The Bet
The banker tapped on the window with his finger, but the prisoner made no movement in reply. This shot will let me know that my efforts have not been in vain. He is eventually found by his friend, who has come to collect on the bet. His prize if he wins will be two million rubles. Всё ничто́жно, бре́нно, при́зрачно и обма́нчиво, как мира́ж. Later, the main focus of his time becomes books, as he searches for adventures and comforts that he cannot possess physically. Five minutes passed and the prisoner never once stirred.
Whereas at first the lawyer was full of virtue, eschewing wine and tobacco, he later gives himself in to his vices, drinking and smoking constantly. IT WAS a dark autumn night. The story highlights the point that man always longs for freedom, which is more valuable than materialistic benefits. He also reminds the lawyer that voluntary imprisonment will be much harder psychologically than that which has been enforced. Thanks to all the reading he has done. Among other things they had talked of capital punishment.
Его чте́ние бы́ло похо́же на то, как бу́дто он пла́вал в мо́ре среди́ обло́мков корабля́ и, жела́я спасти́ себе́ жизнь, жа́дно хвата́лся то за один обло́мок, то за друго́й! Latest answer posted March 25, 2010, 11:36 am UTC 1 educator answer The lawyer loses his humanity as a result of his studies of humanity. Он спал… Пе́ред его склонённою голово́й на столе́ лежа́л лист бума́ги, на кото́ром было что́-то напи́сано ме́лким по́черком. Shocked and moved after reading the note, the banker kisses the lawyer on the head and returns to bed. He would write for a long time and tear it all up in the morning. One of the problems with this story is that the author seems uncertain as to his theme.
Does he feel guilt because he has destroyed a life? Но, пре́жде чем оста́вить эту ко́мнату и уви́деть со́лнце, я счита́ю ну́жным сказа́ть вам не́сколько слов. As the story opens, we are introduced to the two main characters: a banker and a young lawyer. Furthermore, the unnatural appearance of the captive leads readers to believe either that life has worn him down much faster than usual or that his life has been much harsher than the lives of most people. In the early hours of the day when the fifteen-year period is to expire, the banker resolves to kill the lawyer, but finds him greatly emaciated and sleeping at a table. Те, кото́рые наблюда́ли за ним в око́шко, говори́ли, что весь этот год он только ел, пил и лежа́л на посте́ли, ча́сто зева́л, серди́то разгова́ривал сам с собо́ю. Conclusion The Bet by Anton Chekhov is a short story about a bet between two men that has drastic consequences. Suddenly the lawyer appears, announces his love of life, declares books a poor substitute, and asks for a considerable sum of money, threatening suicide if he does not receive it.
He will take my last penny from me, he will marry, will enjoy life, will gamble on the Exchange; while I shall look at him with envy like a beggar, and hear from him every day the same sentence: 'I am indebted to you for the happiness of my life, let me help you! He is allowed to write letters, read books, play the piano, drink, and smoke. During the first year of imprisonment, the lawyer, as far as it was possible to judge from his short notes, suffered terribly from loneliness and boredom. Trying to make no sound, he took out of his fireproof safe the key of the door which had not been opened for fifteen years, put on his overcoat, and went out of the house. For the first year of his confinement, as far as one could judge from his brief notes, the prisoner suffered severely from loneliness and depression. Meanwhile, the banker seems to be thriving, enjoying all the comforts and luxury that his money can provide. Or have fifteen years of solitary confinement warped his judgment? The State is not God. Из его фли́геля постоя́нно днём и но́чью слы́шались зву́ки рояля! Вме́сте со слу́гами банкир тотчас же отпра́вился во фли́гель и удостове́рил бе́гство своего́ у́зника.
It was during this period that the banker received the following letter from his prisoner: "My dear Jailer, I write you these lines in six languages. The young man forfeits his bet with the banker as his morals have changed from what they were fifteen years earlier. The banker acquiesces and confirms the lawyer's suspicion that he has mastered languages. That shot will show me that my efforts have not been thrown away. Мо́жет ли это доказа́ть лю́дям, что сме́ртная казнь ху́же или лу́чше пожи́зненного заключе́ния? Я знаю, что я у́мнее всех вас.
The banker begins to weep and kisses the sleeping lawyer on the head, wracked with contempt for himself. It is ironic that, following a discussion of which punishment is more moral and humane, both men seem to lose their humanity. With this in mind, the banker goes to investigate how the lawyer is doing. The citation above will include either 2 or 3 dates. The banker, by this time, has gone broke due to his own recklessness and gambling. The foolishness is much embossed here of an unwise man, provokers and low and base men are everywhere though and a chance encounter is a risk to everyone another.
The banker has grown tired of his life and is looking for a way to escape the boredom and monotony that has become his reality. An unforgettable tale of greed, desperation, and hope The Bet by Anton Chekhov is a story that has captivated readers for centuries. Had the lawyer been older and wiser, he would never have decided so impulsively to go through with this bet. It has not the right to take away what it cannot restore when it wants to. The lawyer declared that not only would he take that bet, but he would stay in this confinement for fifteen years. The banker cannot fathom his good fortune, and even offers the young lawyer a way out, saying that he is being hasty and foolish.
The rusty lock gave a hoarse groan and the door creaked. He walks over, takes the letter from the lodge, and locks it in a fireproof safe. When he was asked his opinion, he said: "The death sentence and the life sentence are equally immoral, but if I had to choose between the death penalty and imprisonment for life, I would certainly choose the second. In the space of four years about six hundred volumes were bought at his request. Ге́нии всех веко́в и стран говоря́т на разли́чных языка́х, но гори́т во всех их одно и то же пла́мя.
Держу́ пари́ на два миллио́на, что вы не вы́сидите в казема́те и пяти́ лет. That I may deprive myself of my right to them, I shall come out from here five minutes before the stipulated term, and thus shall violate the agreement. The next morning the pale watchmen came running to him and informed him that they had seen the man who lived in the cottage climb through the window into the garden. Стара́ясь не издава́ть ни зву́ка, он доста́л из несгора́емого шка́фа ключ от двери́, кото́рая не отворя́лась в продолже́ние пятна́дцати лет, наде́л пальто́ и вы́шел и́з дому. In fact, the banker even manages to convince himself that the lawyer is getting the better end of the deal, since he will still be relatively young at 40, and, with the 2 million rubles, relatively rich.
