English Literature Study Notes: Jordan Baker in The Great Gatsby

Introduction

• Presenter: Jen, creator of English Literature study videos.
• Focus: Analysis of Jordan Baker from The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
• Purpose of Videos: To help students achieve high grades by analyzing literary characters, themes, and devices.
• Context: Jordan Baker is a secondary character with more screen time than Myrtle Wilson but less than Daisy Buchanan.

Character Overview

• Background: Professional golfer, childhood friend of Daisy Buchanan.
• Relationship: Love interest of Nick Carraway, but the relationship doesn't work out.

Character Analysis

Emotional Depth

• First Impression: May seem flat and unappealing; appears indifferent or cynical.
• Deeper Analysis: Possesses emotional depth, serving critical functions:
  • Pragmatism: Highlights the tragedy of Gatsby's and the Buchanans' Romanticism.
  • Influence on Nick: Sharpens Nick's awareness of his personal biases, enhancing Fitzgerald's narrative voice.

Role in the Narrative

• Go-Between Character: Acts as a link between Gatsby and Daisy.
• Chapter 3 Interaction: Jordan meets Gatsby privately at a party, creating suspense.
• Suspense Element: Deliberate withholding of information adds to Gatsby's mystique.

Relationship with Nick Carraway

• Personality Traits: Both Nick and Jordan appear worldly and cynical.
• Nick's View: Jordan is dishonest, while he prides himself on honesty.
• Honesty Anecdote: Jordan cheats in golf, illustrating her willingness to maintain appearances.
• Comparative Dishonesty: Less dishonest than Gatsby, Daisy, and Tom, who lie to themselves.

Feministic and Sympathetic Lens

• Dishonesty as Coping Mechanism: Necessary due to societal gender biases.
• Nick's Empathy: Recognizes Jordan's dishonesty but understands her need for survival.

Relationship Dynamics

• Final Exchange: Jordan's engagement to another man communicated a lack of emotional attachment to Nick.
• Emotional Complexity: Jordan's claims of indifference contrast her true feelings of loss.
• Bad Driving Metaphor: Symbolizes poor communication and misunderstandings in relationships.

Conclusion

• Nick's Realization: Avoids a dishonest relationship with Jordan, recognizing his emotional ambivalence.
• Human Relationships: Characterized by complex emotions and misunderstandings.

Final Thoughts

• Viewer Engagement: Encouraged to comment on their perception of Jordan Baker.
• Call to Action: Like the video, subscribe for more English Literature study content.

These notes provide a comprehensive study aid for understanding Jordan Baker's role and significance in The Great Gatsby, highlighting her complex character and the thematic elements she embodies.