3.English Reader - Lesson 3
The Bet
English Reader - Lesson 3
Author: Anton Chekhov
⚖️ About the Story
Anton Chekhov was a famous Russian writer. "The Bet" is a thought-provoking story about a strange wager between a rich banker and a young lawyer. They argue about which is worse: death penalty or life imprisonment. The story explores the value of human life, freedom, and money.
📖 Summary (हिन्दी सारांश)
यह कहानी एक पार्टी से शुरू होती है जहाँ एक अमीर बैंकर (Banker) और एक युवा वकील (Lawyer) के बीच बहस होती है।
शर्त (The Bet):
- बैंकर का मानना था कि मौत की सजा (Capital Punishment) उम्रकैद से बेहतर है क्योंकि यह तुरंत मार देती है।
- वकील का कहना था कि जीवन चाहे कैसा भी हो, जीने का अधिकार सबसे बड़ा है। "To live anyhow is better than not at all."
- गुस्से में बैंकर ने शर्त लगाई: अगर वकील 15 साल तक जेल (एकांतवास) में रह सकता है, तो वह उसे 2 मिलियन रूबल (20 लाख) देगा। वकील ने चुनौती स्वीकार कर ली।
15 साल का एकांतवास:
वकील को बैंकर के बगीचे में एक छोटे कमरे में बंद कर दिया गया। उसे बाहर जाने या किसी से मिलने की अनुमति नहीं थी। इन 15 सालों में उसने हजारों किताबें पढ़ीं, संगीत सुना, और कई भाषाओं का अध्ययन किया। उसने ज्ञान प्राप्त किया कि दुनिया की दौलत और खुशियां नश्वर (Temporary) हैं।
अंत (Conclusion):
शर्त पूरी होने से कुछ घंटे पहले, बैंकर (जो अब दिवालिया होने वाला था) ने वकील को मारने की योजना बनाई ताकि उसे पैसे न देने पड़ें। लेकिन जब वह वकील के कमरे में गया, तो उसने वकील का एक पत्र देखा। पत्र में वकील ने लिखा था कि उसने किताबों से सच्चा ज्ञान पा लिया है और अब उसे पैसों का कोई लालच नहीं है। इसलिए, वह शर्त जीतने से 5 मिनट पहले ही भाग जाएगा। बैंकर को अपनी गलती का एहसास हुआ और उसे शर्मिंदगी महसूस हुई।
📚 Word Meanings (शब्दार्थ)
| Word | Meaning (Hindi) | Meaning (English) |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Punishment | मृत्युदंड | Death penalty |
| Life Imprisonment | आजीवन कारावास/उम्रकैद | Jail for lifetime |
| Solitary Confinement | एकांतवास/काल कोठरी | Living alone in a cell |
| Bankrupt | दिवालिया | Having no money |
| Despise | घृणा करना/तिरस्कार करना | To hate/scorn |
| Renounce | त्यागना | To give up |
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Short Answer Questions
Q1. What was the bet about?
Ans: The bet was about whether the lawyer could stay in solitary confinement for fifteen years. If he succeeded, the banker would pay him two million roubles.
Q2. What did the lawyer do during his imprisonment?
Ans: During his imprisonment, the lawyer read hundreds of books on history, philosophy, languages, and religion. He also played the piano and drank wine in the initial years.
Q3. Why did the banker decide to kill the lawyer?
Ans: The banker decided to kill the lawyer because he had lost his wealth over the years and could no longer afford to pay the two million roubles without going bankrupt.
Long Answer Questions
Q1. Which is better: capital punishment or life imprisonment? Give reasons based on the story.
Ans: The story presents both views. The banker felt capital punishment was more humane as it kills instantly, whereas life imprisonment kills slowly. However, the lawyer argued that life is precious and living in any condition is better than dying. By the end of the story, the lawyer proves that even in isolation, a person can live a meaningful life through knowledge, making life imprisonment a better option for the soul, though difficult for the body.
Q2. Why did the lawyer renounce the money?
Ans: The lawyer renounced the money because his 15 years of reading gave him wisdom. He realized that material wealth, fame, and worldly pleasures are temporary and meaningless (an illusion). He wanted to prove that he despised (hated) what people valued most—money. To show his contempt for earthly riches, he broke the condition of the bet by leaving five minutes early.
Q3. How did the lawyer change over the fifteen years?
Ans: The lawyer underwent a complete transformation. He started as a young man greedy for money. In the first few years, he was lonely and depressed. But as he started reading books, he gained immense knowledge about the world, history, religion, and philosophy. He became a wise man who understood the futility of material life. He transformed from a worldly person to a spiritual ascetic.
-- Class 10 English (Bihar Board) Notes --
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