Essay On Jordan Baker In The Great Gatsby

Since Gatsby is obsessed over his relationship with Daisy, and connects it to his moral success, he wants to make sure that he accomplishes this. His American Dream, as mentioned in the thesis, is to win back Daisys love and this quote exemplifies the fact that he is disillusioned by his dreams which may lead him to failure. In an attempt to reconnect with Daisy, Gatsby purchases a mansion just across the bay from hers, in order to be as close to her as possible. When Jordan and Nick are talking about Gatsby, Jordan begins to mention to Nick how, although he doesnt want to believe it, Gatsby has an obsession with Daisy. As Jordan tells Nick, “Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay” (Fitzgerald 78).

Jay Gatsby’s secretivity draws scorn and allegations such as questions like “is [Gatsby] some big bootlegger… a lot of these newly rich people are” that are lobed at him by Tom and others to discount his character based on his lack of inheritance (114). As opposed to Tom, Gatsby pure personality relies not on names and net worth to determine who qualifies as a decent person, rather he treats everyone, such as his neighbor Nick, well and with respect. Like Gatsby, Wolfsheim’s work influences others’ to believe in his corruption. “Let us learn to show our friendship for a man when he is alive and not after he is dead,” Wolfsheim’s treatment of those around him showcases his innocent intentions (180). Tom and Jordan both try to get others to perceive them as pure, but in reality, they both corrupt.

Gatsby uses Nick to help him achieve his fantasy of reuniting with his former lover, Daisy Buchanon, who happens to be Nick’s cousin. The author uses two female characters known as Jordan and Daisy, individuals cheat and lie, to show how women compete in this male-dominated world. In The Great Gatsby, Jordan is a character who turned to malicious methods in order to get ahead in this world ruled by men. The

Daisy didn’t know that Gatsby was going to be there. When Gatsby and Daisy first met at the tea party, they were awkward, but after a while they were playing around and talking to each other, like old times. Jordan told Nick, “He wants to know if you’ll invite Daisy to your house some afternoon and then let him come over” (Fitzgerald 78). What this is saying is that Gatsby is also using Jordan to get what he wants, not just Nick. Another example is when he told Daisy to tell Tom that she never loved him and only loves Gatsby.

Not only does he try to impress Daisy with an interesting backstory, he even tries to impress her with fanatical acts of love. An example of this is when Jordan explains why it is not a coincidence Nick and Gatsby met. Gatsby attempts to reach Daisy through Nick when Jordan states, “Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be

After Gatsby finishes talking with Jordan she asks Nick to come see her where she reviles the next part of his plan. Gatsby used Jordan to ask Nick if he would invite Daisy over to his house as she is closer to Nick and is afraid that if he asks himself he “might be offended.” (Fitzgerald.77) When asked why he did not just ask her she states, “he wants her to see his house…and your house is right next door” (Fitzgerald.77). Gatsby is able to successfully manipulate Nick, simply using him as a bridge to bring Daisy unknowingly to him.

Differently, Nick Carraway’s attraction towards Jordan Backer was cautious and superficial. Nick first meets Jordan when he is invited over for dinner at the Buchanan residence where Jordan was currently staying. Nick then goes to one of Gatsby’s parties and meets her again and they mingle around getting to know each other more; but, Nick does not feel fully in love with her and only feels “half in love with her” (Fitzgerald chapter 9). Nick does not fall in love with Jordan because of his carefulness which finds out that she is a very dishonest

Furthermore, Jordan is also suspected of being chased by something, her lies. Her life is basically all a lie and she is tangled up in a web of lies, trying to keep up with everyone else and make a name for herself. Gatsby is also pursuing and so is Nick. Gatsby is pursuing Daisy because he loves her and wants her to love him back. His whole life is dedicated to making himself known to Daisy.

Everything he does is to win Daisy back which is clearly outlined in a conversation that takes place between Jordan and Nick, “’It was a strange coincidence,’ I said. ‘But it wasn’t a coincidence at all.’ ‘Why not?’ ‘Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay.’” (Fitzgerald 78).

In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby the audience is introduced to Nick, Gatsby, Daisy, Tom, and Jordan. These characters are the ones that the audience mainly follows as they navigate the issues of the story. Such as Gatsby’s infatuation with Daisy, Tom’s cheating on Daisy, Myrtle being killed, and Gatsby being killed. Fitzgerald uses Jay Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan, and Nick Carraway to prove hope vs. delusion. Gatsby proves hope vs. delusion mainly with his infatuation with Daisy, or more of his obsession with her.

Jordan is trying to prove to Nick that Gatsby did not just happened to be living across from Daisy. He purposely moved there to be near her and have her see the accomplishments and wealth he has gained. Daisy is the green light (“the stars to which he had aspired on that June night”) Gatsby was reaching for at the end of chapter one. The word “merely” makes Daisy seem more valuable than the stars.

Jordan embodies the idea of a more practical and independent woman, who doesn’t need help from a man. Jordan Baker might not be your typical idea of how a woman should behave, but she sure does embody what a lot of women strive

”(Lathbury 70). Nick lost who he truly was and his relationships with others caused an emotional drainage that he could not bare. He was an honorable individual but dishonesty filled his life and determined the outcome of his cherished

On page 8, Jordan is described as “completely motionless, and with her chin raised a little, as if she were balancing something on it which was quite likely to fall.” This shows that shet has struggled to fit in and that if she were to let her mask/ posture she would immediately fall apart. As another example, in Gatsby’s first party Jordan is super awkward: “‘Let’s get out… this is much too polite for me’”(45). This shows that she does not do well with talking to people and that she doesn’t consider herself polite enough to talk to the East Eggers and the to good for the West

The 1920s is a time of technological, economical, and social exploration. Myrtle, Daisy, and Jordan display the full image of what it is like to be a women in New York during the 1920s. They each have a personal struggle with society and the fight between what they want and what is expected of them. Each of these women wants to experience the glamor of the 1920s but has to maintain some of the traditional elegance of a woman. If the neglect to do so, they are treated harshly by society.