Leo Tolstoy\'s Short Story \"How

¶ … Leo Tolstoy's short story "How Much Land Does a Man Need?" The protagonist is never settled with what he has. The narrator sarcastically states at the end of the story, "Six feet from his head to his heels was all he needed," encapsulating the theme and tone of the story. Tolstoy's main argument is against greed. The protagonist, Pahom, is offered an opportunity to have as much land as he can walk on in one day and instead of enjoying the gift and simply receiving as much as possible, he extends himself so much so that he drops dead from exhaustion. The author suggests that being satisfied with what we already have is a far better approach to life than being constantly consumed with the idea that we never have enough. Tolstoy's story is remarkably persuasive. Using a captivating plot, a shocking ending, and a sardonic tone all help the author succeed in delivering the central message of the tale.

Anton Chekhov delivers a similar message but with a completely different approach in his short story "The Bet." A banker and a lawyer make the titular bet early in the story, establishing a clear tone of suspense that encourages the reader to find out what the two men will learn. The two men argue over the ethics of capital punishment vs. 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 earthly affairs are "worthless, fleeting, illusory, and deceptive, like a mirage." Moreover, the banker had come to kill the lawyer so that he would not have to pay out his bet: illustrating the extent of his inhumane greed. Chekhov's story is consummately persuasive, encouraging readers to contemplate the deeper meaning of life and of human existence.