The Great Gatsby: Character & Key Quotes: Jordan Baker

Character Profile: Jordan Baker

Jordan Baker is a professional golfer and a friend of Daisy Buchanan. She embodies many of the characteristics of the modern woman in the 1920s, particularly her independence and non-traditional beliefs about gender roles and relationships. Her sceptical attitude also signals a distancing from romantic ideals revealed through her actions and statements.

Descriptions of Jordan Baker:

“She was extended full length at her end of the divan, completely motionless, and with her chin raised a little, as if she were balancing something on it, which was quite likely.” This description portrays Jordan as a breezy, detached observer, relaxed and nonchalant, a woman of leisure who watches the world around her with light cynicism.
“At any rate, Miss Baker’s lips fluttered, she nodded at me almost imperceptibly, and then quickly tipped her head back again—the object she was balancing had obviously tottered a little and given her something of a fright.” Fitzgerald characterises Jordan’s aloofness and hints at her supposed dishonesty – a reference to her reportedly dishonest behaviour in her golf career.
“She was incurably dishonest. She wasn’t able to endure being at a disadvantage and, given this unwillingness, I suppose she had begun dealing in subterfuges when she was very young in order to keep that cool, insolent smile turned to the world and yet satisfy the demands of her hard, jaunty body.” This remark reveals the essence of Jordan’s character - her dishonesty, casual cynicism, and self-serving nature.

Key Quotes by Jordan Baker:

“And I like large parties. They’re so intimate. At small parties there isn’t any privacy.” This paradoxical statement reflects Jordan’s cynical outlook. This quote also vividly illustrates the era’s superficial social gatherings and the lack of meaningful connection among people.
“It’s a great advantage not to drink among hard-drinking people.” This rational yet aloof comment further adds to her persona as a detached observer who maintains a certain degree of control over her surroundings.
“You said a bad driver was only safe until she met another bad driver? Well, I met another bad driver, didn’t I?” This quote makes a connection to an earlier conversation between Jordan and Nick, and suggests both a literal and a metaphorical interpretation that reveals her lackluster morality and sense of responsibility.

Themes around Jordan Baker:

“You must know Gatsby.” “Gatsby?” demanded Daisy. “What Gatsby?” Jordan serves as the link between Nick and Gatsby, introducing him to the mysterious figure. This solidifies the theme of connections and networks within the novel.
“Daisy ought to have something in her life.” This remark shows Jordan’s non-traditional, possibly scandalous, view on marriage, highlighting the theme of women’s independence and freedom in the 1920s.

Use of Symbolism:

Jordan’s golfing career symbolises her defiantly modern, potentially immoral character. Her reported cheating scandal mirrors her general approach to life: she would do what it takes to get ahead, even if it involves bending the rules. Jordan’s golfing career also symbolically places her in the realm of the ‘new woman’ of the 1920s – independent, outgoing, and challenging traditional gender norms.