What is a summary of 'The Bet' by Anton chekhov?

Answer 1

"The Bet" emphasizes the idea that the life of a human is far more valuable than money. In the short story "The Bet a wager is made that changes the lives of two people. The story begins with a argument at a party over which is more moral, capital punishment or life imprisonment. The banker believes that capital punishment is more moral because the death sentence kills the victim quicker rather than dragging out the process. The lawyer at the party responds, saying, he would choose the life sentence to be more moral because any life is better than no life at all. Hearing this response causes the banker to bet the lawyer two million dollars that the lawyer cannot last five years in solitary confinement. The lawyer accepts the wager, but pushes it to fifteen years in hopes of making a point. The terms of the wager are that the lawyer is to live in solitary confinement without any human interaction for fifteen years, but is granted any books, music, wine, or anything that he wants. As the fifteen years pass, the lawyer discovers the significance of human life. "The Bet" emphasizes the idea that the life of a human is far more valuable than money.

Materialism had blinded the lawyer to such an extent that he sacrificed his freedom and youth just to claim a sum of two millions at the end of his self imposed fifteen year term in confinement. It was during this course of time that he realised that knowledge was true wealth. So he embarked on a journey to enlighten himself. He read voraciously and became a man of letters. He also renounced his claim over his "prize money", which drives home the point that knowledge is the light which dispels the pall of greed and materiality. On the other hand the banker after having lost a fortune on the stock exchange was prepared to murder the lawyer in cold blood to save himself from paying up the two millions to him-this tells us that money drives man to commit the most henious of all crimes.

The author also touches upon dark subjects like lonliness and death. What lonliness can do to a person is clearly visible in this extract"....seeing his emaciated aged-looking face, no one would have believed that he was only forty". Moreover the lawyer did not find pleasure in the best quality wine, because he did not have company. This signifies that in the absence of fellowmen, world's greatest luxury seems worthless.

The author also emphasises on the need to keep one's head above the shoulders while taking major decisions and not be swayed away in a fit of excitement, otherwise one may land up in the shoes of the banker or the lawyer.

Answer 2

Stepan Stepanovitch Tschubukov and Ivan Vassiliyitch Lomov were neighbours in a village. Natalia Stepanovna was the daughter of Tschubukov. Lomov a man of thirty five wanted to marry. He thought Natalia was good at farm work and she was not bad looking. So he came to the house of Tschubukov one evening to propose to Natalia. Naturally he was in his best clothes befitting the occasion of a marriage proposal. Tschubukov received him cordially in his reception room. Like every young man going to make a marriage proposal Lomov was also excited and nervous. After some nervous stammering, he told Tschubokov that he wanted Natalia's hand in marriage. Tschubokov was very excited and happy at the proposal. He went out and sent Natalia into the room to meet the suitor. Natalia was not told of the purpose of Lomov. Natalia and Lomov began to talk.

Lomov was more nervous as he was facing the bride. He made a strong preface before coming to the proposal. He told Natalia about how the Lomovs and the Tschubukovs had been good neighbours on good terms for many years. In this context, he mentioned that his meadow touched the birch woods of Tschubukov. Natalia was surprised to hear that the meadows belonged to Lomov. She claimed that the plot of land belonged to them, the Tschubukovs. A bitter quarrel ensued. Lomov claimed it belonged to him and Natalia too claimed it to be theirs. Lomov forgot his original purpose. They called each other names, even though a little while ago they were full of good neighbourly feelings. Tschubukov came in and heard their quarrel. He too claimed that the meadow belonged to him. The quarrel grew even bitterer. They called each other names and began to expose the scandals of each others' families. Lomov had a weak heart. He used to have palpitation in the heart. He was excited and he fainted. He rose and left the house. At this juncture, Tschubukov remarked that such a fool had dared to come seeking the hand of Natalia.

The moment she heard that he had come to propose to her, Natalia changed her tone. She asked her father to bring back Lomov. Her self interest overruled all other considerations like her loyalty to her family. Lomov came back. Natalia was all politeness. She even conceded that the meadow belonged to Lomov. After all, if they were married, the meadow would come to be hers only. Lomov informed that he would go hunting after the harvest. He was sorry that his dog Ugadi limped and he began to praise his dog. He thought that a hundred and twenty five roubles that he had paid for it was very cheap for such a good dog. Natalia, however, thought that it was a very high price because her father had paid only eighty-five roubles for their dog Otkatai, which was a better dog than Ugadi.

Lomov disagreed and asserted that Otkatai had a lower jaw and Ugadi was a far better dog than Otkatai. Once again their pride in their dogs led to another quarrel. Tschubukov came in and joined the quarrel. Lomov once again got excited and he fainted. Tschubukov who knew the importance of getting his daughter married, at once joined the hands of Natalia and Lomov and declared that Natalia agreed to the match. Natalia too, declared that she was willing and Lomov declared that he too, was happy. Tschubukov shouted for champagne to celebrate the intended marriage.

By Parvez Kumar

Answer 3

lomov is a hypocondraic landowner .at times he turns out to be really nervous though he is desperate to marry natalia doesn't give out easily.he falls into an argument at first over ox meadows and then over dogs which is really silly topic to be disscussed when he has come for marriage proposal.we may say he is absent minded or too nervous

Answer 4

Lomov, Tschubukov,Natalia

Answer 5

First Person point of view