Jordan Baker: The Modern Woman
Jordan Baker embodies the "flapper girl" of the roaring twenties - confident, careless, and completely unapologetic about it. She's a professional golfer who represents the new breed of emancipated women who flouted traditional expectations of respectability and marriage.
Nick finds himself both "enchanted and repelled" by Jordan's dishonesty and privileged attitude. Her famous line about being a careful driver because she hates "careless people" reveals the irony of her character - she's actually quite reckless herself.
Jordan's golden skin and attractive appearance make her socially powerful, but critics suggest deeper meanings. Some argue she represents sexual ambivalence, whilst others see her as potentially mixed-race, trying to "pass" as white for social mobility.
Key insight: Jordan's dishonesty isn't just personal - it reflects the moral corruption of the wealthy elite in 1920s America.
