life in prison and finally, the banker bets the lawyer that he cannot live for fifteen years in solitary confinement and if he can do so, the banker agrees to pay him two million dollars. In his self-imposed prison the lawyer reads extensively and reaches an epiphany. He writes his sentiments in a sort of suicide note; he abandoned his station just one day before he was to receive his prize. Renouncing the two million dollars was a profound statement against human greed and materialism. The lawyer writes that most...

Chekhov's story is consummately persuasive, encouraging readers to contemplate the deeper meaning of life and of human existence.
Both Tolstoy and Chekhov use persuasive story-crafting to send a powerful message about human nature and especially about greed. Especially since both authors witnessed the age of capitalism taking root as well as theoretically backlashes against it, their social commentary is remarkable. "How Much Land Does a Man Need?" And "The Bet" offer equally compelling arguments against greed and for an appreciation of what is far finer than…