Theme/Author's Purpose

I have read to page 65 of Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises. On page 26 of The Sun Also Rises, the protagonist, Jake Barnes, was discussing his relationship with his female companion, Brett. The conversation included Brett refusing to be with Jake exclusively due to his war-wound that affected his sexual ability. The two of them made some jokes about it when in reality the situation was much more serious than they intended it to be. They agreed they shared a mutual love for each other but that did not change Brett's mind. Jake said, "That's my fault. Don't we all pay for the things we do, though?" He was referring to his decision to enlist into the war which caused his injury. Immediately, Hemingway presents the reader with a major theme that holds a great deal of societal significance. What the author was trying to convey by this quote is that in life people make a myriad of choices and with those actions comes responsibility. As humans, we are held accountable for the things we do and say. In life, not only do we pay for the repercussions of our actions but we pay for all the good things that happen as well. This theme ties in again in chapter 14 when Jake says, "You paid some way for everything that was any good. I paid my way into enough things that I liked, so that I had a good time. Either you paid by learning, or by taking chances, or by money."