Final answer:
The correct option is c. Chekhov describes a cold, dark setting near the lodge, which supports the banker's plan to covertly approach and potentially kill the lawyer by setting an ominous mood.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks: How does Chekhov's description of the setting support the banker's evil plan to kill the lawyer? The correct answer is c. Chekhov describes a cold, dark setting near the lodge. This is because the description of a cold, dark setting establishes a mood of foreboding and isolation, consonant with the banker's malicious intentions towards the lawyer in Anton Chekhov's story. It suggests that the banker is able to approach the lodge under the cover of darkness and without the knowledge of others, which underscores the secretive and morally questionable nature of his plan.
The setting in literature often mirrors the internal states of characters or the thematic elements of the story. In this case, the setting is reflective of the banker's dark intentions and punctuates the sense of impending doom. As seen in various literary works, such as those by Turgenev and Dickens, setting can represent different values, ideas, and attitudes, further influencing the narrative and characters' actions within the text.