The heartfelt letter denouncing materialism shocks the banker and makes him realize what it took the lawyer fifteen years to discover: that life is meaningless unless filled with spiritual love. Characterization is strong in both "How Much Land Does a Man Need?" And "The Bet." The peasants, especially protagonist Pahom, in Tolstoy's story are strong characters who work hard to achieve upward social mobility. Their effort is admirable when tempered with wisdom,...

In "The Bet," the two men are equally as strong, their opinions powerful enough to make them willing to enter into an outlandish bet.
Suspense is key to "How Much Land Does a Man Need?" And "The Bet," stories in which both authors build tension. Readers have no idea what will become of Pahom when he walks around the plot of land until the very end of the story when he is "buried" in only six feet of soil. Likewise, no one knows what will become of the lawyer when the banker comes to kill him. His statement, "I know that I am wiser than all of you" provides a chilling close to the story.