– The reason the lawyer says that in his letter is because, according to the lawyer,
he realizes through the wisdom he has gained through the books he has read that the blessings of the world are “worthless,” and “illusory,”
and that the banker prefers to follow those earthly blessings rather than heaven, “so I marvel …
What does the lawyer say in his letter?
First of all, the lawyer says that he despises “freedom and life and health.” Anything that can be considered as one of life’s pleasures is no longer desirable or enjoyable for the lawyer. Secondly, in his letter, the lawyer also says
that he has spent the last 15 years immersed in the world of his books.
What information does the lawyer leave behind in his note in the bet?
The point of the bet is that any life is better than no life. The rules are that
the lawyer will stay on the property of the banker and will have no human contact for fifteen years
. He can have anything that he wants involving music, books, entertainment, or food.
What does the banker putting the lawyer’s letter in his fireproof safe symbolize?
To avoid arousing suspicion (that the banker might have killed or banished the lawyer), the banker keeps the lawyer’s letter in a fireproof box. Therefore, he would
always have proof that the lawyer renounced the two million and voluntarily escaped from the lodge.
Why does the lawyer despise the money?
The essential idea in Chekhov’s ironic and thought-provoking story “The Bet ” is that
the fifteen years the lawyer spent in solitude changed his character
so drastically that he came to despise money and all worldly things. He had grown so used to solitude and solitary meditation that he…
What should you not say in court?
- Do Not Memorize What You Will Say. …
- Do Not Talk About the Case. …
- Do Not Become Angry. …
- Do Not Exaggerate. …
- Avoid Statements That Cannot Be Amended. …
- Do Not Volunteer Information. …
- Do Not Talk About Your Testimony.
What do judges say at the beginning of court?
Judge: “
Prosecution, are you ready to begin
.” Prosecution: “Yes your honor.” Judge: “The prosecution may make its opening statement.” “Your Honor and members of the jury, we know that _____________________ is guilty of violating the law.
Why do lawyers surrender 2 million dollars?
Because
he had lost a lot of money in the past 15 years through gambling and the Stock Exchange
, so giving the lawyer $2 million would ruin him.
Which does the banker consider more human?
The banker values personal pride, power, material possessions, and money. In all things, the banker is
a powerful man
. He would choose the death penalty as being the most humane simply because it would be better than dying by degrees. … Capital punishment kills a man at once, but lifelong imprisonment kills him slowly.
Why does the lawyer say he will stay not five but fifteen years?
The lawyer states that
the life sentence would be preferable
, but the banker calls his bluff, saying that he couldn’t stand five years in prison. The decision by the lawyer to raise the stakes is meant to prove his point that a life sentence would be preferable to a death sentence.
Why does the banker put the prisoners letter in the safe?
He was planning to murder his prisoner to get out of paying the bet, and then he was planning to allow one of his servants to be convicted of the crime and sent to Siberia. … He locks the lawyer’s letter in a fireproof
safe to serve as evidence that he had won the bet
, if any question should arise in the future.
Why do you think the banker is feeling so much contempt for himself after reading the lawyer’s note?
After reading the letter, the banker feels “contempt for himself,” presumably because
he is guilty of just what the prisoner is writing about
: believing in the lies mankind has lived by. … He locks up the letter so that he will have proof that the prisoner has lost the bet.
How does the banker and the lawyer change from the beginning to the end of the story?
In the end of the story, “The Bet,”
the lawyer despairs of life, and he reneges on the wager with banker
. In their bet about which is crueler, live-long imprisonment or capital punishment, the banker and the lawyer wager their futures. The young lawyer argues that life on any terms is better than death.
What was the most astonishing part of the prisoners letter?
The most astonishing part of the prisoner’s letter was
his intent to leave his captivity five hours early and renounce the money he would have received.
Why does the prisoner deliberately forfeit the banker’s money?
Expert Answers
It was a lucky thing that the prisoner decided not to claim the two million rubles, because
the banker slipped into his room with the intention of murderiing him
. The banker’s conduct was proof of the corrupting power of money.
What does the banker think when he sees the lawyer sleeping at the table?
In “The Bet,” when the banker sees the lawyer sleeping at the table, he thinks
that the lawyer is a pitiful figure
, and he feels sorry for him. This alone, however, does not deter the banker from his plan to kill the lawyer.
