The Bet

The Bet By Anton Chekhov

Questions and Answers:

1. What was the bet between the banker and the lawyer?

The bet was about which punishment is more humane: death penalty or life imprisonment. The banker argued that the death penalty is better because it ends suffering quickly. The young lawyer disagreed and said living, even in prison, is better than dying. In excitement, the banker offered two million rubles if the lawyer could stay in solitary confinement for fifteen years. The lawyer accepted the challenge to prove his point. This bet becomes the central event that drives the whole story.

2. How does the lawyer spend his time during the imprisonment?

During the first year, the lawyer suffers from loneliness and depression. He spends time playing the piano and reading light novels to distract himself. Later, he begins to read serious books on philosophy, history, science, and languages. He studies many subjects and even learns several foreign languages. Books become his only companions, and through them he experiences the world. Over time, reading changes his thoughts and his attitude toward life.

3. How does the banker’s life change over the fifteen years?

At the beginning of the story, the banker is very rich, proud, and careless about money. He makes the bet confidently, believing two million rubles is nothing to him. However, over the years, his financial condition worsens due to risky investments and losses. He becomes worried, nervous, and fearful of losing his remaining wealth. The thought of paying the lawyer terrifies him. His greed and fear slowly replace his earlier confidence.

4. What realization does the lawyer come to at the end of the story?

After years of reading and thinking, the lawyer realizes that material wealth and worldly pleasures are meaningless. He understands that money, luxury, and physical comfort do not bring true happiness. He begins to despise ordinary human life, which he sees as shallow and foolish. Through knowledge and reflection, he feels spiritually superior to others. He decides that he no longer wants the money promised in the bet. This realization leads him to take a surprising decision.

5. Why does the lawyer leave the cell before the end of the bet?

The lawyer leaves the cell just five hours before the bet ends to show that he rejects the money. By doing this, he technically loses the bet and cannot claim the two million rubles. He wants to prove that he no longer values wealth or material things. His long isolation and deep study have changed his views about life. He now believes that spiritual freedom is more important than money. His action shocks the banker and reveals his moral transformation.

6. Why does the banker consider killing the lawyer?

The banker becomes desperate when he realizes he must pay the lawyer a huge amount of money. He fears that paying the two million rubles will make him completely poor. In panic, he thinks about killing the lawyer to avoid the payment. He even goes to the lawyer’s room at night with this dark intention. This moment shows how greed and fear have morally corrupted him. However, he does not commit the crime because he reads the lawyer’s letter first.

7. What is the significance of the lawyer’s letter?

The lawyer’s letter explains how his views on life have changed during his imprisonment. He writes that he now despises money, pleasure, and worldly success. He says that people chase false values and ignore true wisdom and spiritual growth. The letter shows that he has gained deep knowledge but lost interest in material life. It also saves the banker from committing murder. The letter becomes the moral and philosophical climax of the story.

8. What is the main theme of The Bet?

The main theme of The Bet is the contrast between material wealth and spiritual wisdom. The story shows how greed can destroy a person’s morals, as seen in the banker. At the same time, it shows how knowledge and reflection can change a person deeply, as seen in the lawyer. Chekhov questions society’s values about money, success, and punishment. The story also explores loneliness, time, and the purpose of life. In the end, it suggests that spiritual understanding is greater than material riches.

Short Notes:

1. Character Sketch of the Lawyer

Young, Idealistic and Determined

At the beginning of the story, the lawyer is only twenty-five years old and full of strong ideals. He believes that life, even in suffering, is better than death. During the argument, he boldly says, “To live under any conditions is better than not to live at all.” This statement shows his courage and youthful confidence. He accepts the bet not for money alone, but to prove his belief. His decision reveals his determination and strong willpower.

A Seeker of Knowledge

During his fifteen years in confinement, the lawyer turns to books as his companions. He reads literature, philosophy, science, history, and even learns several languages. In his letter, he writes, “Your books have given me wisdom… I know that I am wiser than all of you.” This shows how deeply reading has transformed him. He travels the world through books and gains vast knowledge. His intellectual growth becomes more important to him than freedom itself.

Spiritually Enlightened and Detached

In the final years, the lawyer becomes detached from material life. He begins to see wealth and pleasure as meaningless illusions. He writes, “I despise your books, despise all worldly blessings and wisdom.” This shows his rejection of material values. To prove this, he leaves the prison five hours before the end of the bet, giving up two million rubles. His action shows spiritual victory over greed.

2. Character Sketch of the Banker

Wealthy but Arrogant

The banker is a rich and self-confident man at the start of the story. He believes money can solve everything and speaks carelessly about human life. During the debate, he declares, “The death penalty is more humane than imprisonment for life.” He proudly offers two million rubles, thinking it is a small amount. His pride and arrogance make him start the foolish bet. At this stage, he is ruled by wealth and ego.

Fearful and Greedy

As the years pass, the banker’s financial condition becomes weak. He begins to worry about losing his money and feels trapped by his own bet. He thinks, “Accursed bet! Why didn’t that man die?” This shows how greed has changed his thinking. He values his money more than a human life. His fear grows so strong that he even plans to kill the lawyer.

Ashamed and Morally Defeated

One night, the banker goes to the lawyer’s room intending to murder him. However, after reading the lawyer’s letter, he feels shocked and ashamed. He realizes that the lawyer no longer cares about money, while he himself has almost become a criminal for it. The narrator says he felt “contempt for himself.” In the end, he hides the letter to avoid shame, showing his moral defeat. Though rich, he becomes spiritually small.

3. Title: “The Bet”

 A Simple Wager with Serious Consequences

The title refers to the bet made between the banker and the lawyer during a party. What begins as a casual argument about capital punishment turns into a life-changing event. The banker says, “I’ll bet you two million you won’t stay in solitary confinement for five years.” The lawyer replies, “If you mean it seriously, I’ll take the bet… not five but fifteen years.” This moment sets the whole story in motion. The title highlights how a small decision can have deep consequences.

A Test of Human Values

he bet is not only about money but also about beliefs and human endurance. It tests whether life is better than death and whether a man can survive in isolation. Over time, the bet becomes a test of greed versus wisdom. The banker becomes greedy and fearful, while the lawyer grows thoughtful and detached. Thus, the bet reveals the true nature of both men.

Symbol of Life’s Irony

Ironically, the person who risks money (the banker) becomes miserable, and the person who loses freedom (the lawyer) becomes enlightened. The bet changes their lives in opposite ways. In the end, the lawyer rejects the reward, making the bet meaningless. The title therefore symbolizes the foolishness of gambling with human life and values. It reminds readers that pride and money can lead to moral loss.

4. The Ending of the Story

The Banker’s Dark Decision

On the last night of the bet, the banker is in deep fear of losing his fortune. He sneaks into the lawyer’s room with the thought of killing him. He believes that murder will save him from financial ruin. This moment shows how low he has fallen morally. His greed pushes him toward crime.

 The Lawyer’s Letter

Before harming the lawyer, the banker reads a letter left on the table. In it, the lawyer says, “I renounce the two million… I despise money and the things it can give.” He explains that years of reading have taught him that worldly life is meaningless. This letter reveals his spiritual transformation. It also saves the banker from becoming a murderer.

 A Moral Victory and Defeat

The lawyer leaves the prison five hours early, losing the bet on purpose. By doing so, he proves that he is above material wealth. The banker, on the other hand, feels ashamed and hides the letter to protect his reputation. The story ends with the banker morally defeated and the lawyer spiritually victorious. The ending teaches that inner wisdom is greater than money.