The Bet Essay

The bet

After reading the bet by chekhov's one can see through the young man's decisions the cost of capital punishment versus life imprisonment as both equally immoral. In my beliefs and views of the young man's decision was the value of human life, money teaches life lessons and the lack of courage to endure reality.

The story begins with a heated debate between a banker and many clever men on capital punishment versus life imprisonment. The host of the gathering was the banker who started the debate. Many of the men disapproved of the death penalty, because they found that it was unsuitable for Christians. As the debate continues, the banker was in favor of capital punishment over life imprisonment. In other words is found that is better to die in a few minutes than to be torched in prison for many years and still die. One of the guest stated " both are equally immoral".

Among the men was a young 25 years old lawyer, who was then asked his opinion. His answer was, he would rather take life imprisonment than the death penalty. The banker then said to the lawyer " I'll bet you two millions you wouldn't stay in solitary confinement for five years". Then young man replied, I' all take the bet, but I would stay not five but fifteen years. The banker and the young man enter to the bet agreement as a result of their unsolved conflict in the debate. The banker decided that the young man spend his 15 years of captivity under the strictest supervision. They agreed that the lawyer wouldn't have any human contact with the outside world, but he was allowed any amount of books, instrument, wine, tobacco and to write letter to order his supplies.

The first year the young man went through depressions and loneliness. He would play piano continually day and night from his lodge in the garden. In the second year he stop playing piano and ask for classic. In the fifth year music was again, and he then ask for wine. According to the story, he would eat, drink and laid on the bed talking to himself and sometimes write notes and destroyed them in the morning. As time went by he read books and study languages, philosophy and history. He gained more knowledge, wisdom and learned different languages. The young man wrote a letter to the banker, showing him how life was worth living anyhow than dying.

Within the last two years of imprisonment, the banker realized that the young man was proving him wrong and was going to be a rich man with his two millions, That he became so afraid of asking himself what was the purpose of the bet. For instance the value of money misconstrued by many people. The banker look highly upon his money, he praised and enjoys his wealth deeply. He began wonder about which was greater, his debts or his assets. The banker was uneasy that he began to think about the two millions. He mutter to himself "why didn't he die" so I'll win the bet and keep my millions to myself. He decided that the only way to save himself from bankruptcy and shame was the death of the young man. This shows the love of money is the root of all evil.

As time grew closer for the young mans released, the banker decided to end the lawyers life to save himself from being a poor man. He went into the lodge where the lawyer is kept captive, but to his surprise he found the young man sitting at the table asleep, there he had a note addressed to the banker. He stated, tomorrow at 12 o'clock I will regained my freedom and the right to associate with other men, but its necessary to say a few words to you, freedom and life are good things of the world. To show him that he despised him, his books his blessings and his money, he said I'll break out through the window 5 hours before my time of released. This showed the banker that he endured to the end.

According to the story the young man showed the banker his years of captivity made him a better person, on the other hand within the fifteen years the bankers life, only proved his greed and selfishness. This emphasized that money is misconstrued by many people, the human life is way more important and valuable than money. This story also discovered the significance of human, the lack of courage to endure reality, the senselessness of the bet and never to doubt someone potentials.