The Bet By Anton Chekkov

807 Words2 Pages

For a long time people have debated over the idea of whether or not imprisonment for life is better or worse than the death penalty. I would say that the answer to this is very subjective. It all depends on the crime committed, privileges and treatment given, whether or not the sentenced is in solitary confinement, and the prisoner’s own opinion.
Sentencing someone to death is generally seen as an extremely cruel punishment, as killing someone for any reason is considered immoral. But is that really true? In the short story ‘The Bet,’ by Anton Chekkov, a banker starts up an argument over whether or not the life sentence or the death penalty is better. He states his opinion in the first page. “‘I have not tried either the death penalty or …show more content…

Studies have confirmed that quite a few of those convicted of capital crimes, and even some who were executed, were innocent. Being sentenced to life gives the chance that new evidence may be uncovered, and the innocent would be freed. But if someone truly did commit a terrible crime, the death sentence can be humane in some cases. When animals are too old to be useful or sick and in pain, we put them down. It was much more cruel back then, but now we have lethal injections that ensure the animal doesn’t feel too much pain. I believe this is similar to how a prison should sometimes operate. The prisoners who are too much of a danger for inmates and officers are placed in solitary confinement. They get to spend a very long time with almost no human contact. This always leads to them having psychological problems. It can be a waste to provide for these people who can’t function even in prison, and to be honest, I would rather die than spend my life in solitary …show more content…

Many prisons grant their prisoners certain rights. These may include the access to mailing letters, books, radios, and even television. Some are even allowed jobs, so you can still have a pretty comfortable life. While serving a life sentence, I believe that there is a point where you just accept your new life. I’m sure that people who were sentenced felt very depressed in the beginning, but after a while, they adapt to their new lifestyle. It might not be the best, but there are still many positives. There are new kinds of rewards, punishments, and even relationships. You still have some freedoms, even if they are simple ones, and you can find satisfaction in the little things life has to offer. Taking a person’s life takes away their chance at finding this new

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