Read the following passage from "The Bet" by Anton Chekhov:
In the second half of the sixth year the prisoner began zealously studying languages, philosophy, and history. He
threw himself eagerly into these studies [...]
"My dear Jailer, I write you these lines in six languages. Show them to people who know the languages. Let them
read them. If they find not one mistake I implore you to fire a shot in the garden. That shot will show me that my
efforts have not been thrown away. The geniuses of all ages and of all lands speak different languages, but the
same flame burns in them all. Oh, if you only knew what unearthly happiness my soul feels now from being able
to understand them!"
What does this tell us about the lawyer's character?
The lawyer, isolated and lonely, is now begging for death.
The lawyer is immensely intelligent, as indicated by the quickness he was able to learn so many languages.
To stalve off depression and loneliness, the lawyer is learning languages as an attempt to connect to people
and humanity.
The lawyer is a braggart, as shown by his pompous gloating.