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Something that fascinates me in The Sun Also Rises is the seeming abundance of money that Jake and his friends have to spend. They party most nights, go out to eat for every meal, buy drink after drink, and go on exotic vacations. Aside from that, they throw out money unnecessarily, like when Brett gives the concierge at Jake’s apartment two hundred francs just to get her favor. Even more perplexing is that none of them seem to work that much. Brett’s escapades are funded by various men in her life which explains her frivolity. But how does Jake (a newspaper writer, maybe not the highest earning job?) justify this lifestyle?

In Spain, when Jake and Bill are checking into their hotel they are shocked at how expensive it is. However, once they find out wine is included in the price Jake says that “It’s all right.” (Hemingway, 116). This suggests that Jake is willing to pay for anything that he thinks deserves money. A hotel room for twelve pesetas? Absolutely not. But a hotel room and wine for twelve pesetas? Absolutely worth it. Jake’s thoughts later in the book illuminate his reasoning on this behavior. Lying in bed one night Jake thinks “The bill always came. (…) You paid in some way for everything that was any good. (…) Enjoying living was learning to get your money’s worth and knowing when you had it.” (Hemingway, 152). Jake believes that everything in life worth having is paid for in some way; if he needs to spend a little more money to have a good time he will because that’s part of living happily. On the other hand, he won’t pay for things that aren’t worth the cost.

But what about things that you don’t pay for with money? That same night Jake thinks about Brett and how he hasn’t yet paid for his relationship with her. He says “I had been getting something [Brett] for nothing” but thinks that eventually he will have to pay in some way (Hemingway, 152). However, I would argue that Jake, while maybe unconsciously, has been paying for his love of Brett. Countless nights he lies awake trying not to think about her or his injury that prevents him from being with her. He sees her with other guys and tries to act like it doesn’t bother him but deep down it does. So, as usual Brett seems to be Jake’s kryptonite. For everything else in life Jake’s philosophy is to pay for it only if it’s worth it to be happy, which isn’t what’s happening regarding Brett. Jake is so devoted to her he doesn’t realize what loving her is costing him (happiness, sleep, etc.). And even if he was aware of this cost, would it even be worth it? Does Brett actually bring more happiness than misery into Jake’s life?