Jordan Baker is a significant side character in F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby. She is a professional golfer and a socialite from an affluent background, known for her aloof, mysterious, and alluring demeanor

. Jordan is a close friend of Daisy Buchanan, having grown up with her in Louisville, Kentucky, and is often portrayed as Daisy's social and personal counterpart

. Characteristically, Jordan is confident but also notably dishonest and cynical. She has a reputation for cheating in a golf tournament, which hints at her willingness to bend rules and her "incurable dishonesty"

. This dishonesty serves as a protective mechanism in the harsh social environment she inhabits

. Jordan plays a crucial role in the novel's plot by acting as a bridge between key characters. She knows both Gatsby and Daisy and facilitates their reunion by informing Nick Carraway, the narrator, about Gatsby and Daisy's past relationship and helping arrange their meeting

. Additionally, she is Nick's romantic interest during the story, although their relationship is more casual than deeply loving

. Overall, Jordan Baker embodies the modern, somewhat careless and cynical woman of the 1920s upper class, navigating social circles with charm and a degree of moral ambiguity