Final answer:
The lawyer in Chekhov's 'The Bet' quits because he undergoes a spiritual and intellectual transformation, realizing the futility of material wealth and renouncing society's superficial values.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Anton Chekhov's The Bet, the lawyer opts out of the bet just before it concludes, despite the fact that he would have won a significant sum of money. The lawyer's decision comes after years of solitary confinement, during which he reads many books, acquires knowledge, and experiences a profound transformation.
He realizes the futility of material wealth and the superficial nature of society's pursuits. In a letter left for the banker, the lawyer renounces both the money and the world's false values, choosing to value his new-found spiritual and intellectual freedom over material gain.
The letter is a scathing comment on the human conditions of greed and ambitions that prompted the bet in the first place, highlighting that wisdom and enlightenment cannot be measured by wealth.