Jordan & Myrtle: Women Trapped by Society
Jordan Baker represents the "flapper" generation of the 1920s - independent, dishonest, and careless. Her reckless driving symbolises her approach to life: "it takes two to make an accident." She's deliberately written as a flat character to show the shallowness of her social class.
Myrtle Wilson is the novel's most tragic figure, constantly imprisoned - first by her social class and marriage, then literally when George locks her up. Her desperate attempts to transform herself through clothes show her belief that appearance can change reality.
Both women are defined primarily through male perspectives and their relationships with men. Jordan serves as Nick's summer entertainment, while Myrtle is Tom's possession - "I want you to meet my girl."
Social Commentary: These female characters reveal how 1920s society limited women's options, forcing them into roles as objects for male pleasure or status symbols.