Journal Entry #1

Chapter 1: Pages 1-21

Chapter Summary:

In Chapter 1 of The Great Gatsby, the reader is introduced to Nick Carraway, the narrator of the story who begins with a few words of wisdom from his father, followed by a brief description of himself and of his neighbor, Gatsby, who represents everything he scorns, yet still possesses a ‘gorgeous’ personality within. After graduating New Haven in 1915 and coming back from the Great War restless, Nick moves East in the ‘spring of twenty-two’ to West Egg, a ‘less fashionable’ East Egg. Nick describes his own house, an 'eyesore', compared to his Gatsby’s next-door mansion. Nick attends a dinner party at his college friend Tom Buchanan and cousin Daisy’s house in East Egg where he meets and describes the characteristics of Tom, Daisy, and their friend, Jordan Baker. After leaving, Nick returns home and sees Mr. Gatsby for the first time.

Character Name:

a) Jordan Baker

Most Defining Quote:

b) “Don’t talk. I want to hear what happens.” (Baker 14)

Characteristics:

c) Jordan Baker is a dedicated golfer. She is extremely nosy when it comes to gossip. She is a slender, small-breasted girl, who is always standing up straight as if she were a cadet. She carries her chin high and she has a ‘charming’, yet ‘discontented’, face. (11)

Role in the Book:

d) Throughout the dinner party, Jordan Baker appears arrogant and unlikable. “Miss Baker’s lips fluttered, she nodded at me almost imperceptibly, and then quickly tipped her head back again.” (9) When Nick had arrived at the house and entered the living room where Daisy and Jordan were sitting, Jordan did not even acknowledge his presence as if she were the only one in the world that mattered. “If she saw me out of the corner of her eyes she gave no hint of it. I was almost surprised into murmuring an apology for having disturbed her by coming in.” (8) Because Jordan is different than Daisy with her male role thus far, I feel that there will be character conflict between the ‘new woman’ of the 1920’s and Daisy, the social standard of American feminism.

Quote:

“We’ve got to beat them down.” (Daisy 13)

In all of Chapter 1, this is the most significant quote because it really shows the lack of role women played in the 1920’s. I am nearly offended every time Daisy opens her mouth pretending to be a docile and subservient woman only present because of her beauty. She really gives women a bad name and this quote is significant because it shows the immediate contrast between her and Jordan which foreshadows a possible change in women’s roles in society. This quote really stood out because it was one of the only non-passive quotes from Daisy so far.