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Comparing Daisy And Jordan In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

751 Words4 Pages

In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book, The Great Gatsby, the contrast between Daisy and Jordan illustrates the emergence of the New Woman and the decline of male dominance during the 1920s. Throughout the novel, Daisy is portrayed as a domesticated and stagnant character in order to depict the traditional behavior of women at that time period. Daisy is seen as a shallow character when she responds “oh, yes” to Nick’s statement that her daughter “talks, and-eats, and everything” (Fitzgerald 16). The quick and short response reveals Daisy’s lack of attachment towards her daughter. Her brief reaction to Nick’s comment about her child shows how eager she is to move onto another topic that revolves around herself. Daisy explains how she wept when she …show more content…

Jordan Baker is portrayed as a clever woman who surrounds herself with “shrewd men…. [because] she wasn’t able to endure being at a disadvantage” (Fitzgerald 58). By surrounding herself with ‘inferior men,’ Jordan feels more important and has more control over herself. Jordan is a professional golfer and during one of “her first big golf tournament[s]...[there was] a suggestion that she had moved her ball from a bad lie in the semi-final round” (Fitzgerald 57). Jordan’s action of “[moving] her ball” indicates her defiance of following the rules of the game as well as her habits of being dishonest (Fitzgerald 57). Many women of this time did not find the need to cheat; therefore, it just shows Jordan’s ability to free herself from conformity. Jordan also portrays another character trait of the New Woman, recklessness, when “she passed so close to some workmen that [their] fender flicked a button on one man’s coat” (Fitzgerald 58). The sight of women driving during this era was very rare and the fact that Jordan was driving rather rashly shows how she did not care what society thought and of its norms. Jordan’s irresponsibility is shown when Nick rebukes her on her driving and her response for her actions is simply “well, other people are” also reckless (Fitzgerald 58). Her blithe excuse shows her negligent habits and careless lifestyle, unlike Daisy’s habit of being careful. Also, Fitzgerald portrays Jordan as being a very irresponsible character when she said that other drivers will “keep out of [her] way, it takes two to make an accident” (Fitzgerald 58). Jordan’s selfish behavior is exemplified when her driving causes other people on the road to be responsible for not only their safety but hers as well. The Great Gatsby portrays how most women during this time were dependent, careful and subservient; however, Jordan depicted the

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