In The Wager by Chekhov, is the banker better off because he has learned his lesson and knows he is a better man for it?
I don't think so. The banker is miserable.
To answer your question about whether the banker in Chekhov's "The Wager" is better off because he has learned his lesson and knows he is a better man for it, we need to analyze the story's events and the character's development.
"The Wager" is a short story by Anton Chekhov that revolves around a bet between a banker and a young lawyer. The banker bets the lawyer that he cannot endure 15 years of solitary confinement, and if the lawyer succeeds, he will receive a large sum of money. As time passes, the lawyer's confinement becomes increasingly difficult, pushing him to reevaluate his values and the meaning of life.
While the story ends with both characters experiencing personal changes, it is essential to consider the banker's transformation. As the years go by, the banker realizes the emptiness of his former extravagant lifestyle, which is contrasted with the lawyer's minimalistic existence in solitary confinement. The banker reflects on his thoughtless actions, greed, and the shallowness of his previous values.
However, it is debatable whether the banker truly becomes a better man. His realization of the shallowness of his former life and the moral lessons he learns from observing the lawyer's transformation may suggest personal growth. On the other hand, the banker's remorse and newfound awareness are prompted by guilt and fear rather than genuine introspection.
Additionally, the story's ending undermines any notion that the banker has genuinely learned his lesson and become a better person. Instead of accepting defeat and paying the lawyer as agreed, the banker decides to kill him, highlighting the immoral and desperate nature of his character.
In conclusion, while the banker in "The Wager" undergoes a realization about the emptiness of his previous life, it is difficult to argue that he becomes a genuinely better man as a result. His actions and decisions at the end of the story contradict any growth he may have experienced, indicating that he still prioritizes self-interest and lacks true moral development.