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Analysis of the Bet

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Analysis of the Bet
Choices in Life
“The death sentence and the life sentence are equally immoral, but if I had to choose between the death penalty and imprisonment for life I would certainly choose the second. To live anyhow is better than not at all” (Chekhov 1). In Anton Chekhov’s short story “The Bet” a lawyer and a banker make a bet about which penalty is more humane. The lawyer says that life imprisonment is more humane. In saying this, the lawyer bets he can stayed locked up in a cell for 15 years without any human contact and it will show it’s more humane. In the short story “The Bet” by Anton Chekhov; the lawyer encounters many types of conflicts including man vs. man, man vs. self, and man vs. nature.
The lawyer encounters man vs. man conflict in the short story when he makes the bet with the banker trying to state his opinion. The banker carrying on the conversation trying to prove he is correct and not letting anyone challenge him. The banker states “It’s not true I bet you two million you wouldn’t stay in solitary confinement for five years” (Chekhov 1). The lawyer replying says “If you mean that earnest... I’ll take your bet but not for five but fifteen years” (Chekhov 1). The lawyer not thinking takes the bet giving away his freedom for fifteen years. Many people would take the bet thinking only about the money and no their life or freedom. The lawyer at the time is a very greedy man only thinking about money. The banker trying to convince the lawyer he is wrong says “think better of it young man while there is still time. To me two million is a trifle but you are losing three or four of the best years of your life... (Chekhov 2). The lawyer still not caring about losing fifteen years of his life only caring about money still takes the bet. The banker later on questions why they made the bet and the good of throwing away two million dollars. The lawyer still doesn’t care he would go against any man to get money in his pocket.
Another conflict the lawyer encounters
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