How Much Shall We Bet? Blog

The story "How Much Shall We Bet", by Calvino talks about two persons talking before the world has even created. They are always gambling and betting who will win. But what can they win if there is nothing to get? Soon they start piling up their gambling and loose the count (considering there are no numbers it is very difficult). The two persons refer to each other as (k) y K and Dean. Bit from my point of view (k) y K was much smarter than Dean. He knew how to control his money better and was very careful on his bets. Instead Dean always contradicted him and never knew what he was talking about. For many years they kept gambling and eventually came to lose track of their bets. At the end, when the world is formed, they describe them both as unsuccessful men siting in offices with charges of no importance. Dean becomes paralytic, and (k) y K looses his interest in betting.


I think this myth was very interesting and like nothing we have ever read. I likes how Calvino mixes myth creation with two normal men. Though sometimes I came to doubt if they were Gods. It is one of the greatest creation myth I have ever read. Eventough sometimes they could have specified things better. But i like the main idea. I also liked how the two characters bet on things that will happen to the universe with such naturality...