Character Analysis Of Jordan Baker In The

Great Gatsby Essay, Research Paper

In The Great Gatsby, written by Francis Scott Fitzgerald, Jordan Baker was portrayed as being reckless and dishonest, having the arrogant attitude of many of the people of her time, but also having the characteristics of modern-day women. This classic novel

was written on the glitz and glamour of the Jazz Age, on the wealth and greed of the people during the Jazz Age, and also on the American dream and the corruption of it.

Jordan Baker is, first of all, depicted as having an arrogant attitude. This side of Miss Baker is shown when she first starts conversation with Nick. ” ‘You live in the West Egg,’ she remarked contemptuously” (11). Jordan is obviously looking down upon Nick because he lives in the West Egg which is for the so-called “new money.” The same day, Jordan gives a remark that makes the reader infer that Jordan is too good to date Nick. She says “I haven’t heard a word” (19). Jordan gave this comment to Daisy after Daisy implied that Jordan and Nick gettogether. Jordan, like many of the other inhabitants of the East Egg, thought of herself as having much more grace and dignity than the people of the West Egg and also as being superior to them.

The recklessness of many people during the Jazz Age is also portrayed through Jordan Baker. She is often lazy, dishonest, and blunt. Tom Buchanan remarked to Jordan at times how he wondered how she got anything done (11). Miss Baker is also a very dishonest

character. There was a rumor going around that she moved her golf ball during a tournament to win (58). It was said of her that she would do almost anything to win or at least to get her way. Nick Carraway, who was very fond of Jordan also said that “She was incurably dishonest.”(58). Jordan Baker is also shown to be a very reckless driver. She carelessly stated that “It takes two to make to make an accident.”(59). She also strongly suggested that she hoped she would never meet anyone as careless as herself. (59). Jordan Baker is also a very blunt woman. She stated her opinions rather openly. She was the first to tell Nick of Tom’s mistress (15). F. Scott Fitzgerald often emphasized the recklessness of the American people and used Jordan Baker as a prime example to do so.

Although Jordan Baker was characterized by many bogus traits, she did have her strong-points. Jordan Baker was part of the American dream. She was a primary example of modern women. She was self-sufficient and very independent. Women from many years back

were thought of as feeble creatures who needed men to support them, but Jordan Baker helps prove this wrong. She is a self-made woman. First of all, Jordan is a very masculine name which proves that she is definitely very independent as well as self-sufficient. She is

described as “hard” and “small-breasted” (11). She was also described as “a young cadet” whichproves that she is self-sufficient (11). Jordan Baker is also depicted to be very independent because she is a golfer (19). Not many women of her day, or before that, were active in sports such as golf. Jordan also has a carefree attitude because it is said that she is a drinker. She also smokes and haves sex; not because there is pressure on her to do such things, but because she is gratified by these activities. Jordan Baker truely started up the American dreamfor women.

Jordan Baker was an essential character in the writing of The Great Gatsby. She depicted the recklessness, dishonesty, and arrogance of many people of the East Egg; on the other hand, Jordan Baker represented the independence and self-sufficience of women.

Fitzgerald gave Jordan a crucial role in his masterpiece The Great Gatsby because of her characteristics of the bad things were in light during the Jazz Age and also of the good that came out of this extravagant time period.