"They'll keep out of my way," she insisted. "It takes two to make an accident."
Chapter 3 · Jordan Baker
Context
During a conversation about Jordan's reckless driving—she nearly hit a workman—Jordan deflects Nick's criticism by insisting that other people's caution compensates for her own carelessness.
Analysis
Jordan's statement encapsulates the moral philosophy of the careless rich throughout the novel: the assumption that others will accommodate their recklessness. The driving metaphor extends to moral recklessness: Tom, Daisy, and Jordan all rely on others to 'keep out of their way' and absorb the consequences of their actions.
How to Use in Essay
Crucial for essays on the carelessness theme, moral responsibility, or the privileges of wealth that allow the rich to externalize consequences onto others.