The Bet
By Anton Chekhov
As the story opens, a banker recalls the occasion of a bet he had made fifteen years before. Guests at the party that he was hosting that day fell into a discussion of capital punishment; the banker viewed it as more humane than life imprisonment, while a young lawyer disagreed, insisting that he would choose life in prison rather than death. They agreed to a bet: if the lawyer could spend fifteen years in total isolation, the banker would pay him two million rubles. The lawyer would have no direct contact with any other person but could write notes to communicate with the outside world and receive whatever comforts he desired.
Confined to a guest room on the banker's property, the lawyer suffers from loneliness and depression at first but eventually begins to read and study in a wide range of subjects. He learned six different languages. By the sixth year, he started reading the Scriptures.
As he takes advantage of the solitude to educate and amuse himself in various ways over the years, the banker's fortunes begin to decline. He realizes that if he loses, paying off the bet will lead to bankruptcy.
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. A note written by the latter reveals that he has chosen to abandon the bet, having learned that material goods are fleeting and that divine salvation is worth more than money.
"That I may show you in deed my contempt for that by which you live, I waive the two millions of which I once dreamed as of paradise, and which I now despise. 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."
Shocked and moved after reading the note, the banker kisses the lawyer on the head and returns to bed. When the banker wakes up later that morning, a watchman reports that the lawyer has climbed out the window and fled the property, forfeiting the bet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There are two major characters featured in this story - the banker and the lawyer.
The banker likes to be in a position of authority and likes to wield power over others, especially those who happen to disagree with him.
His character changes drastically from the beginning of the story - when he is very cheerful and optimistic as he quickly bets to pay two million and later, his lack of wealth drives him to dishonesty and plan for murder - it shows his weakness.
He is very attached to the materialistic luxuries of life and values human life less than his luxuries as he plans on killing the lawyer.
He plans on killing the lawyer for money, and nothing but money changes his mind. He kisses his friend's forehead when he learns he does not have to pay the bet.
On the other hand, the lawyer seems to be persistent, intelligent, and self-motivating.
He does not break down in the fifteen years of imprisonment as the banker foretold. He is intelligent, patient, and determined.
He started spending most of his time reading so many books - spending time in introspection and meditation - which reflects in his eagerness to find peace within rather than claiming the final prize.
He starts as a young, impatient person, ready to spend fifteen best years of his life for two million. But in the end, his emergence as a person with no interest in materialistic luxury is reflected when he renounces the two million and settles with just having proved his point and the peace he found within.
The lesson to learn from this story is that in this hour of lockdown, do not put yourself in the annoyance, anxiety, and fear - feel the closeness of the Divine - spend some time in introspection, self-examination, and meditation - and try to see life from a new perspective.
Believe that everything will get better eventually.
Follow the lockdown.
Stay safe, keep family, society, and your nation and the world safe.
' Rajan Sachdeva '
By Anton Chekhov
As the story opens, a banker recalls the occasion of a bet he had made fifteen years before. Guests at the party that he was hosting that day fell into a discussion of capital punishment; the banker viewed it as more humane than life imprisonment, while a young lawyer disagreed, insisting that he would choose life in prison rather than death. They agreed to a bet: if the lawyer could spend fifteen years in total isolation, the banker would pay him two million rubles. The lawyer would have no direct contact with any other person but could write notes to communicate with the outside world and receive whatever comforts he desired.
Confined to a guest room on the banker's property, the lawyer suffers from loneliness and depression at first but eventually begins to read and study in a wide range of subjects. He learned six different languages. By the sixth year, he started reading the Scriptures.
As he takes advantage of the solitude to educate and amuse himself in various ways over the years, the banker's fortunes begin to decline. He realizes that if he loses, paying off the bet will lead to bankruptcy.
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. A note written by the latter reveals that he has chosen to abandon the bet, having learned that material goods are fleeting and that divine salvation is worth more than money.
"That I may show you in deed my contempt for that by which you live, I waive the two millions of which I once dreamed as of paradise, and which I now despise. 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."
Shocked and moved after reading the note, the banker kisses the lawyer on the head and returns to bed. When the banker wakes up later that morning, a watchman reports that the lawyer has climbed out the window and fled the property, forfeiting the bet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There are two major characters featured in this story - the banker and the lawyer.
The banker likes to be in a position of authority and likes to wield power over others, especially those who happen to disagree with him.
His character changes drastically from the beginning of the story - when he is very cheerful and optimistic as he quickly bets to pay two million and later, his lack of wealth drives him to dishonesty and plan for murder - it shows his weakness.
He is very attached to the materialistic luxuries of life and values human life less than his luxuries as he plans on killing the lawyer.
He plans on killing the lawyer for money, and nothing but money changes his mind. He kisses his friend's forehead when he learns he does not have to pay the bet.
On the other hand, the lawyer seems to be persistent, intelligent, and self-motivating.
He does not break down in the fifteen years of imprisonment as the banker foretold. He is intelligent, patient, and determined.
He started spending most of his time reading so many books - spending time in introspection and meditation - which reflects in his eagerness to find peace within rather than claiming the final prize.
He starts as a young, impatient person, ready to spend fifteen best years of his life for two million. But in the end, his emergence as a person with no interest in materialistic luxury is reflected when he renounces the two million and settles with just having proved his point and the peace he found within.
The lesson to learn from this story is that in this hour of lockdown, do not put yourself in the annoyance, anxiety, and fear - feel the closeness of the Divine - spend some time in introspection, self-examination, and meditation - and try to see life from a new perspective.
Believe that everything will get better eventually.
Follow the lockdown.
Stay safe, keep family, society, and your nation and the world safe.
' Rajan Sachdeva '
Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete