Nineteenth Century When Industrialism, Capitalism,

¶ … nineteenth century when industrialism, capitalism, and imperialism were at their peaks, Leo Tolstoy and Anton Chekhov infused their writing with social commentary. Furthermore, Tolstoy and Chekhov used literary elements to create realistic portraits of life in Russia during the nineteenth century. In "How Much Land Does a Man Need?" Tolstoy portrays life through peasants' eyes. The protagonist and even those who would have been his benefactors had he lived are all peasants. Through peasants' eyes, Tolstoy delivers a poignant message about greed and materialism. In "The Bet," Chekhov also writes about materialism and greed but through the minds of a lawyer and a banker. Their positions in life lend them a unique perspective on wealth and power. In both short stories, the authors rely mainly on irony, characterization, and suspense to deliver the central message.

Before he dies, Pahom "gained much land." Yet in gaining much land, the peasant perishes from his own greed. The irony in "How Much Land Does a Man Need?" is palpable. Pahom got exactly what he wanted but is too dead to enjoy it. Similarly, the banker in "The Bet" was worried that he would have to pay off his two million dollar bet, so he devises a plan to kill the lawyer minutes before his fifteen year self-imposed prison term is up. 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, but pitiable when taken to an extreme like Pahom does. In "The Bet," the two men are equally as strong, their opinions powerful enough to make them willing to enter into an outlandish bet.