Question

refer to explorations in literature for a complete version of this story. how does chekhov’s use of the third-person limited point of view in the bet affect the story? ○ it allows him to tell the reader that the banker locked the lawyer’s essay in the safe. ○ it allows him to describe the banker’s self - contempt when the banker reads the lawyer’s essay. ○ he is able to show the banker looking at the lawyer through the window of the cell. ○ he is able to reveal the lawyer’s thought process upon deciding to leave the cell.

Explanation:

In "The Bet", Chekhov's third - person limited point of view focuses on the banker's perspective for most of the story, but when it comes to the lawyer's decision - making thought process at the end, the third - person limited can also reveal the lawyer's inner thoughts as the narrative is still somewhat centered around the events and the characters' mental states related to the bet. The other options: the first option is about an action of the banker (locking the essay) which is not the main effect of the third - person limited; the second option is about describing the banker's self - contempt, but the third - person limited in this story is more about revealing the lawyer's thoughts at the crucial decision - making moment; the third option is about the banker's action of looking at the lawyer, which is not the key effect of the point of view.

Answer:

He is able to reveal the lawyer's thought process upon deciding to leave the cell.