Chapter 3 Pages 43-64

Summary: Nick is invited to a party at Gatsby’s house. He doesn’t know many people there, but runs into Jordan Baker and hangs out with her. They meet Mr. Gatsby, and Nick realizes they were both in the Third Division during the war. Jordan and Mr. Gatsby talk privately, and when Nick leaves the party a drunken guy crashes his car. Nick starts to hang out with Jordan more during the summer, and thinks that he is starting to love her.

Character: Jordan Baker

“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” (Fitzgerald 63).

            Jordan is free and careless. She does not have any rules, and is just looking to have fun. Jordan befriends Nick at the party, and invites him to sit with her and make sure he is not lonely. She is nice, but does whatever it takes so she can to stay ahead of everyone else.

            Jordan is a figure of the wealthy people in this novel. She is rich and famous, yet still does not seem to have everything in life. Just like all the other rich character so far; they seem to have everything but live a miserable life. She is careless and is starting to take in interest in Nick. Jordan and Nick are complete opposites, and that is why she kind of likes him. She is always dishonest while he is always honest. Jordan might become Nick’s girl in the future.

Quote: “I looked around. Most of the remaining women were now having fights with men said to be their husbands” (Fitzgerald 56). Nick is at a party with a bunch of couples that seem to have it all. They are rich and can afford to live in a gorgeous house and buy anything they desire, yet they fight. All married couples can have their problems, but these arguments are ridiculous. The girls are complaining that they are always the first ones to leave the party because of their husbands. These people are selfish and only think about themselves no matter what the circumstances are. Also one guy might be cheating on his wife. All the wealthy married people seem to have many things in common: selfish, cheaters, and do not love their spouses.