The Great Gatsby: Ch. 3, pages 39-59

The beginning of the chapter describes the extravagance of Gatsby's party; the orchestra, mouth-watering food, bars, and liquor. This is the first time Nick has been invited to Gatsby's house, and meets Jordan Baker at the party. Together, they both hear rumors about Gatsby's past life such as being a German spy and killing a man. In the middle of the party, Nick finally speaks to the middle-aged man, Gatsby, who does not stand out at all, but when he speaks to him, the man emits a rare understanding smile. At the end, the setting changes and the narrator is not at the party anymore, and also finds out that Jordan Baker's true dirty self.

Character: Jordan Baker

"She was incurably dishonest." (Fitzgerald 58)


Jordan is a strong, independent, and modern woman. She appears with a strong disposition and everybody around her respects her. In Chapter three, two women even approach her as if she were a man that is wealthy. But this chapter also reveals a nasty part to her; a nasty part of her that includes acute dishonesty. Nick clearly explains how much she lies by telling the story of how she cheated in the gold tournament and also how she lies about how the convertible got wet.

Jordan Baker's role in the novel is to be the person that Nick loves. If somebody ever discovered Jordan's deceiving actions, he/she would naturally feel disgusted, but Nick does not. Instead, he simply says dishonesty made no difference to him, and then forgot the topic. Even though he denies that he loves her and instead is curious in her, it is clear that he is starting to feel attracted to Jordan Baker, or else he would have naturally minded about her lies.

Quote:
"Every one suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known."  (Fitzgerald 59)

The quote stuck out to me because I felt it incredibly self-conceited, which is not supposed to be Nick's character. To say that one is the most honest person one has ever known is horribly wrong. People always know themselves the best, and that is why people know their faults the best, which is why people always have doubts. If Fitzgerald was trying to show that Nick had brimming confidence, it did not work for me that way. The brimming confidence of knowing himself turned into conceit when I read that quote.