The Bet and Other Stories by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov is a collection of short stories written in the late 19th century. The titular story, The Bet, delves into profound themes such as human nature, morality, and the value of life, centered on a bold wager between a wealthy banker and a young lawyer.
The story deeply explores the psychological struggles faced by the characters, highlighting how the long-term bet transforms their lives. It begins on a dark autumn night, with the banker reflecting on a party he hosted 15 years earlier. During that gathering, a discussion among the guests about capital punishment escalated into a heated debate. In a moment of impulse, the banker proposed a wager: if the lawyer could endure 15 years of voluntary confinement, he would receive two million rubles.
As the narrative progresses, it portrays the lawyer’s harrowing experience of solitude and personal growth during his imprisonment, while simultaneously revealing the banker’s descent into despair and moral conflict as he confronts the consequences of his impulsive decision. Ultimately, the story invites readers to reflect on the essence of freedom and the moral dilemmas surrounding human existence.

THE BET
I
II
A TEDIOUS STORY(FROM AN OLD MAN'S JOURNAL)
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
THE FIT
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
MISFORTUNE
AFTER THE THEATRE
THAT WRETCHED BOY
ENEMIES
A TRIFLING OCCURRENCE
A GENTLEMAN FRIEND
OVERWHELMING SENSATIONS
EXPENSIVE LESSONS
A LIVING CALENDAR
OLD AGE