It made no difference to me. Dishonesty in a woman is a thing you never blame deeply—I was casually sorry, and then I forgot.
Chapter 3 · Narrator
Context
Immediately after his harsh assessment of Jordan's dishonesty, Nick reveals his casual dismissal of it, attributing this to a gendered double standard.
Analysis
This statement is deeply revealing of both Nick's gender assumptions and his moral flexibility. The claim that 'dishonesty in a woman is a thing you never blame deeply' universalizes a sexist attitude through the second-person 'you,' attempting to normalize what is actually a personal choice to overlook Jordan's flaws because of romantic interest. The casual tone ('I was casually sorry, and then I forgot') undermines Nick's later claim to be exceptionally honest—an honest person would not so easily dismiss dishonesty in others.
How to Use in Essay
Important for essays on gender dynamics in the novel, Nick's reliability as a moral authority, or the double standards applied to men and women in 1920s society.