The BetThe Bet

Anton ChekhovAnton Chekhov

SETTINGSETTING

Set in Russia in 1885Set in Russia in 1885

AutumnAutumn

Party at the Banker’s estateParty at the Banker’s estate

Lodge where the young lawyer Lodge where the young lawyer resided on the Banker’s propertyresided on the Banker’s property

CHARACTERSCHARACTERS

1.1. The Old BankerThe Old Banker Spoiled and frivolousSpoiled and frivolous Places a bet with the Young Lawyer Places a bet with the Young Lawyer

concerning an argument over capital concerning an argument over capital punishmentpunishment

2.2. Young LawyerYoung Lawyer 25 years old25 years old Would rather choose life in prison over Would rather choose life in prison over

deathdeath Takes the Banker’s betTakes the Banker’s bet

THE BETTHE BET

The Young Lawyer must live isolated The Young Lawyer must live isolated for 15 years with no human contactfor 15 years with no human contact

Live in the lodge on the Banker’s Live in the lodge on the Banker’s propertyproperty

Can have books, food, wine, mail, Can have books, food, wine, mail, etc.etc.

Cannot see or talk to anyone Cannot see or talk to anyone

PlotPlot

Exposition/Basic SituationExposition/Basic Situation Banker introduced as the main Banker introduced as the main

charactercharacter Dark autumn nightDark autumn night Remembers the dinner party he had Remembers the dinner party he had

given 15 years agogiven 15 years ago Flashback interrupts the storyFlashback interrupts the story

PlotPlot FlashbackFlashback

Dinner partyDinner party AutumnAutumn Disagreement arisesDisagreement arises over the use of capitalover the use of capital PunishmentPunishment

Leads to the betLeads to the bet between the Banker between the Banker and Lawyerand Lawyer Lawyer accepts the betLawyer accepts the bet

PlotPlot

FlashbackFlashback• Year 1: loneliness and Year 1: loneliness and depression/ constantlydepression/ constantly played the piano/refusedplayed the piano/refused wine and tobaccowine and tobacco• Year 2: No piano/ asked for the classicsYear 2: No piano/ asked for the classics• Year 5: music again/ ate/ drank Year 5: music again/ ate/ drank

wine/lay in his bedwine/lay in his bed

PlotPlot

FlashbackFlashback• Year 6: studied languages, Year 6: studied languages,

philosophy, and historyphilosophy, and history• Year 10: sat immovably at the table Year 10: sat immovably at the table

and read only the Gospels, theology, and read only the Gospels, theology, histories of religionhistories of religion

• Last 2 years: read immense Last 2 years: read immense quantities of natural sciences, quantities of natural sciences, Shakespeare, Bryon, and medicineShakespeare, Bryon, and medicine

PlotPlot

Rising Action/ComplicationsRising Action/Complications Banker remembers how he gambled his Banker remembers how he gambled his

millionsmillions Realizes the lawyer has won the bet, but Realizes the lawyer has won the bet, but

he has no money to be able to payhe has no money to be able to pay ClimaxClimax

Banker goes to the lodge late at night Banker goes to the lodge late at night with the intention of killing the lawyerwith the intention of killing the lawyer

PlotPlot

Falling ActionFalling Action Finds the lawyer face down asleepFinds the lawyer face down asleep Discovers and reads the letterDiscovers and reads the letter Returns to the houseReturns to the house Is informed by the watchmen that the Is informed by the watchmen that the

lawyer had leftlawyer had left Denouement/ResolutionDenouement/Resolution

Takes the letter from the table and locks Takes the letter from the table and locks it up in a fireproof safeit up in a fireproof safe

CONFLICTSCONFLICTS

Elemental: Capital punishment more Elemental: Capital punishment more immoral vs. life imprisonment more immoral vs. life imprisonment more immoralimmoral

Internal: The prisoner – the meaning Internal: The prisoner – the meaning of his life vs. his desire for moneyof his life vs. his desire for money

Internal: The Banker – desire to kill Internal: The Banker – desire to kill the lawyer vs. paying the betthe lawyer vs. paying the bet

POINT OF VIEWPOINT OF VIEW

33rdrd Person Limited Person Limited

The story is told from the Banker’s The story is told from the Banker’s thoughts and feelings. The narrator is thoughts and feelings. The narrator is outside the story. 3outside the story. 3rdrd person person pronouns are used. pronouns are used.

THEMETHEME

Consider theme from the perspective Consider theme from the perspective of both characters and what they of both characters and what they struggled with in the story and how struggled with in the story and how they handled their conflicts.they handled their conflicts.

Lawyer: Freedom and social Lawyer: Freedom and social interaction are essential human interaction are essential human needs.needs.

Banker: Earthly accomplishments are Banker: Earthly accomplishments are worthless in the face of death.worthless in the face of death.

OTHER ELEMENTSOTHER ELEMENTS

Situational Irony: The lawyer has Situational Irony: The lawyer has spent his entire imprisonment spent his entire imprisonment gaining knowledge and wisdom, but gaining knowledge and wisdom, but as a result has lost his capacity for as a result has lost his capacity for hope and no longer sees any use for hope and no longer sees any use for knowledge and wisdom.knowledge and wisdom.

TECHNIQUES USEDTECHNIQUES USED

Flashback – interrupting the present Flashback – interrupting the present action in a story to show earlier action in a story to show earlier events and is triggered by the events and is triggered by the present event.present event.