“The Bet” is a short story that belongs to the genre of 19th-century Russian Realism. Realism in general is a type of literature focused on capturing life as it really is, as opposed to romanticism, which tends to romanticize (or glamorize) life. Realist literature does not shy away from depicting human suffering and the more painful aspects of the human condition.
Russian realism is a particular form of Realism that is characterized by depictions of the struggles of Russian people in the 19th century, focusing more on the fraught inner worlds of characters (and their haunting, isolating environments) rather than adventurous plots or action. Characters in Russian realist novels tend to both experience suffering and also philosophize or reflect on their suffering, which is certainly true of the two main characters in “The Bet.”
In this way, “The Bet” can also be considered a work of philosophical fiction. This is a type of literature that encourages readers to reflect on their relationship to humanity, ethics, and existence. On the first page of the story, the narrator poses the question: “Who is the more humane executioner, one who kills you in a few seconds or one who draws the life out of you incessantly, for years?” Readers are supposed to be holding this question throughout the entire story along with the two main characters. In leaving the end of the story ambiguous, Chekhov encourages readers to decide for themselves which man was correct and what exactly it is that makes life worth living.
