Question

With close reference to the story ‘The Bet’ by Anton Chekhov, mention the clauses of the bet as laid down between the young lawyer and the old banker. Give an account of the events that follow the bet .

Answer 1

In a party hosted by the banker, the subject of capital punishment was discussed among the guests. Some disapproved of death sentence and said it should be replaced by life imprisonment. The banker didn’t agree with the opinion. He argued life imprisonment kills slowly. One of the guests was a young lawyer who was of the view that both forms were immoral. He said if he had to choose he would choose lifelong imprisonment in place of a death sentence.
A discussion followed. The banker got provoked and challenged a bet to the young lawyer. A bet was laid between the two that the banker would give two million if the lawyer stayed in solitary confinement for five years. The lawyer said he would stay for fifteen years. There were certain terms and conditions agreed between the two. The lawyer was to stay on the lodge of the banker’s garden under strict supervision. He would not step out before the fixed time. He would see no human beings, hear no human voice and receive no letter or newspapers. He was allowed to’ drink wine, smoke, read as many books as he desires and writes letters.
In the first year of his confinement, the lawyer did not smoke or drink. He felt sad and depressed. He read the book of a light vein and played piano almost all the time. In the second year, no sound of music came from his room. He likes to eat, drink and lie on the bed. In the sixth year, he asked for books on languages, philosophy, and history. For the next four years, he read hundreds of books on diverse subjects. One full year he studied one single book, the Bible.
A day before the lawyer was to win the bet the banker thought if he had to give the man two million he would go bankrupt. He thought he should kill him secretly. It was raining and the watchman was nowhere to be seen. With his wicked idea, the banker entered the room of his prisoner. He was shocked to find him reduced to a mere skeleton, asleep on his bed. He thought he could easily stifle him with the pillow. Just then he saw a letter for him lying on the table. In it, he had written he now despised freedom, life and wealth and believed that only death was real. To prove that he had no interest in worldly things he would come out of his room five hours before the fixed time and lose the bet.
The banker was moved reading the letter. He kissed the prisoner’s head and went out. He could not sleep for hours. The next morning he went to his quarters to confirm that the prisoner had escaped. He picked the letter and kept it in his safe to avoid unnecessary talks.