Oct 03, 2009 10:08 AM
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When I will think about short stories one of the foremost work that came to my mind is "'the bet
'". It is about the story of a wild and senseless bet carried out centuries ago in russia.During a party conducted in a night, among some men a topic had arisen.Whether capital punishment or life imprisonment is more brutal.this is the summary.Then a fierce argument had taken place between these people.
Most people said capital punishment is better as it will end the person''s or convict's life suddenly.Hence he don''t have to suffer the worst.But one man, a young lawyer fresh from the law college of 22 year old disagreed.He said that life sentence is better, he said that to live some how is better than death whether it is in the worst circumstances.A greedy old banker challenged him.He said, he will lock the young lawyer in a room with watcher outside for 25 years.If he will succeed , he will give the lawyer all his wealth and fortune.If he wants to go within this period, he will pay a big fortune to the banker.But the young lawyer accepted the challenge.Everybody is stunned in horror.He did not withdrew this challenge.
The wild and senseless bet is carried out. On the first year the young lawyer asked for books in philosophy, the next year he asked the books regarding science. All the years he asked books of all topics available with the mankind.The banker provided all.All the time he read and read and rode.Some times he is laughing alone, sometimes crying, sometimes shouting, the banker sometimes watched him secretly. some times he acted like a madman.The banker thought that he had gone mad after all the years.After long 25 years, he haD never asked to go from the cell.The same young guy is now old, his beard moutache hair, all some thing white.one night before he banker had opened the door of the room.The next day, the banker found that the man had gone from the room, only a letter had found in the room.
It stated that he had found all the joys of life from the books he read. he is more wiser than any man. The knowledge is far precious than money and wealth. And that he is going out by breaking the bet.All the knowledge he got from the books gave him much more wisdom and joy thar is unparellelled.It is much better than the life outside. After that nobody saw him ever. A story that exposes the futility of human life is depicted not easily.
