analyze the following quatation: ""I had made a substantial payment to society for anything society had given me or would in the future; a leg and much of one arm are hard coin" (85).

During Dunstan's convalescence in a British hospital, he ponders over the idea of being considered a war hero. Dunstan doesn't think he is any more deserving of a medal than any of his comrades that were injured or killed. He, however, also says that he has paid his service to the country with a permanently injured leg and arm. If the powers that be wish to reward him for his injury with currency, he would not stand in their way.