“The Bet”

Anton Chekhov (Heraklion Press)

5.0 out of 5.0 stars

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In this is a short but insightful read, a wealthy banker and a young lawyer argue vehemently about capital punishment versus life imprisonment. As the argument unfolds, they make a rash bet: the banker bets 2 million (currency unstated) that the lawyer cannot spent 5 years in confinement. The brash young lawyer raises this to 15 years and so they embark upon their bet.

In his solitary confinement the lawyer begins an aggressive campaign of self-learning.

In year one he reads light novels and plays the piano.

In year two he reads classics.

In year five he eats, drinks, writes and returns to music.

In years six to 10 he studies history and philosophy and learns six languages.

He then spends one full year on the New Testament.

He spends his final two years on science and random reading.

[Spoiler alert] As the end of the 15th year draws near, the banker, now broke, regrets his bet and concludes the only way out for him is to kill the lawyer. With the watchman away from his post, the banker enters the lawyer’s cell only to find the man sleeping with a note on the table before him. In the note, the lawyer shares that he has explored everything in his confinement and determined that the millions no longer matter to him. In fact, he renounces his claim to the millions.

Thoughts

The true depth of this story is the lawyer’s note in which he contemplates the meaning of life. He condemns humanity saying that “Though you be proud and wise and beautiful, yet will death wipe you from the face of the earth” and describes them as “mad, and gone the wrong way.”

In a powerful conclusion he states: “So do I marvel at you, who have bartered heaven for earth.” In my mind, this is the critical message of the whole story and evokes the words of Jesus: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). And I agree with Jerome Smith (https://www.realbiblestudy.com/?p=3379) that the critical element in understanding the lawyer’s decision to walk away from the millions is found in the year he spent studying the New Testament.

The version I read was from Heraklion Press but that no longer seems to be available on Amazon. Another option is available: