Examine the way Fitzgerald introduces the character of Jordan Baker in the opening chapter of 'The Great Gatsby'.

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Examine the way Fitzgerald introduces the character of Jordan Baker in the opening chapter of 'The Great Gatsby'.

Although Fitzgerald presents Jordan Baker alongside Daisy Buchanan, it quickly becomes apparent through Fitzgerald's subtle use of description, as well as speech and narrative voice, that the two are only superficially similar. Jordan Baker appears to represent a new kind of femininity, one which is free-spirited, almost androgynous, and relaxed, as opposed to prim, straight-laced, and presided over by men. She is described as being somewhat boyish, and her use of language and the way other characters, especially Nick, react and speak to her, suggests that she is almost arrogant and is certainly sure of her standing in society. Furthermore, she appears to be quite independent; she does not seek male approval and speaks openly to men, yet there are hints that she cannot entirely escape behaving as society expects her to.

The novel is written in a first person narrative voice, with Nick Carraway as narrator. Since Jordan's introduction is reliant upon the narrator and, without it, she cannot enter the narrative, it would first appear that Jordan is reliant upon men. Yet Jordan appears in the novel as a “stranger” to Nick who gives “no hint of” having noticed him, suggesting that she is described as a “stranger” to Nick not only because he does not know her, but because she does not behave as convention dictates (she does not rise to greet him) and Nick cannot, therefore, fit her neatly into a stereotype or even into his past experiences. Instead she asserts control by refusing to acknowledge his presence and it is obvious that this works: Nick is “almost surprised into murmuring an apology for having disturbed her”. Furthermore, she is introduced by name by Daisy, who merely “hint[s] in a murmur... [at her] surname”. That she is introduced by both sexes suggests that she is equally reliant upon both, or, perhaps, that she relies upon nobody except herself, as her refusal to acknowledge Nick suggests. Daisy's mere “hint[ing]” at her name appears to imply that Jordan has the potential to steal Nick's attention from Daisy, further suggesting that she is well-known in society. The fact that Daisy only reveals Jordan's surname is also significant; it not only suggests that she respects Jordan but also that her full name will doubtless be recognised and, indeed, when Nick learns her full name he realises that her has seen her in “pictures of the sporting life at Asheville and Hot Springs and Palm Beach”: she is a professional golfer. Jordan therefore holds quite a prominent place in New York society, yet her profession signifies more than this. This engagement in the sporting world was a new development: female participation rose significantly during the early 20th century, with women being allowed to compete in only three events at the Olympics from 1900. Jordan appears, therefore, to be very much a modern woman, who plays sport, has a significant social standing, and relies upon no-one but herself.

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Nick's description of Jordan is also key to her introduction, and therefore to the reader's first impressions of her. He “enjoyed looking at her”, suggesting that not only is Jordan an accomplished individual in her chosen sphere of golf but that she is also highly attractive. She is “slender, [and] small-breasted” and holds herself “like a young cadet.” This description has slightly masculine, or maybe more correctly, androgynous, overtones, and was a look which was extremely fashionable during the 1920s. Baker “throw[s] her body backward at the shoulders” to accentuate her boyish physique: she is someone who is keen ...

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