The Bet, 2020

The experts are telling us how the world will be different after our lockdown ends, but perhaps it is even more important to understand how we will be different. That is what I take away from the story “The Bet” by one of the greatest short-story writers, Anton Chekhov. I've adapted it for today’s times, to help draw out its timeless lesson for our age. 

Author's Note

Our Age of Coronavirus inspired me to write this adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s “The Bet”. I am indebted to Swami Krishnananda for pointing me to this story.

Michael, a banker, was hosting a number of friends for dinner at his New York penthouse, when Antonio, a lawyer, began a heated debate with him. Antonio had asserted that capital punishment was cruel, but Michael countered, “Yes but isn’t life imprisonment even more inhumane? You are put in a prison cell for life. The whole world is out there, but you cannot step out and enjoy it. I would prefer immediate death to being caged in this way for the rest of my life. It would be torture!”

“Wrong,” said Antonio, “Life imprisonment still brings possibilities with it. Death is final. I would prefer life imprisonment, any day.”

“I’m willing to bet five million dollars you would not!”, retorted Michael, who was known to have a brash temperament and had drunk quite a lot by then.

Antonio agreed with great alacrity to take on the bet...

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