The shelter in place orders issued recently in response to Covid-19, have reminded me of a short story I read a few months ago. Anton Chekhov’s “The Bet” starts with a discussion of capital punishment and life imprisonment. As people debate which is worse, a bet is struck in which a man must stay in isolation for 15 years to claim his prize. While living in comfortable apartments and homes is hardly imprisonment, it is quite similar to the situation the man in Chekhov’s story found himself in. Many people have access to books, alcohol, and news but must remain home to stop the spread of the virus.

Take some time to read “The Bet” and see how the main character spends his 15 years of isolation. Can you imagine a reworking of Chekhov’s classic for our current situation? Would the conclusions be the same? How would you react to 15 years of confinement? Is the situation totally different because of our modern forms of connectivity?

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