“His servants were more than visible in their crisp black and white, more dignified, more sleekly dressed and more sober than his guests would ever be. For him, as in the hallowed halls of the elite from New York to Chicago to San Francisco, there would always be a human price for his luxury.” (Vo 23)
Jordan’s social stature plays a significant role in shaping her identity. Although she originates from Tonkin, a region in Vietnam, she was adopted into a wealthy family, which caused her to grow up in a wealthy environment. Constantly surrounded by the privileged, Jordan has developed an admiration for their wealth and social stature, even if they have a habit of disrespecting her. Their wealthy lifestyle intrigues Jordan and feeds into her desire to be surrounded by the wealthy. While Jordan’s roots originate in poverty, being surrounded by wealth and privilege has caused her to admire the lavish lifestyle and prioritize her social status.
A World of Wealth and Privilege
Jay Gatsby is an extremely wealthy individual who throws extravagant weekly parties that only the upper class attends. Many long to be invited to his events, and only the wealthy have the privilege of attending them. The parties Jordan attends at Jay Gatsby’s mansion underline the privileged society that Jordan is living in. The appearance of the servants working for Gatsby’s extravagant events calls attention to the class struggles illustrated in the novel that have an impact on Jordan's identity.
“I liked their independence, their wealth, the fact that they were so well-fed and poison-tipped, and they never cared who knew it.” (Vo 131)