Jordan Baker uses the change of seasons as a metaphor for new beginnings in life. She tries to cheer up Daisy, who is depressed and tired of life. This quote is indicative of Jordan’s personality. Unlike Daisy, she is pragmatic and doesn’t rely on others to enjoy her success in life.
Detailed answer:
The storyline of The Great Gatsby reaches its climax during an abnormally hot day in August 1922. Daisy is torn between her marriage with Tom and the affair with Gatsby. She sees life as a meaningless experience. When she confides in Jordan, the latter tries to convince her that the hard times will pass like the summer’s heat. Jordan believes that the fall will bring new opportunities for them.
Throughout the novel, the narrator often speaks of Jordan Baker as a liar and hypocrite. Calling her “a rotten driver,” Nick literally refers to Jordan’s driving skills. But also he points out her influence on others. Fitzgerald is ironic when he puts the quote about the new beginnings in her mouth. The events following this conversation have tragic consequences for the whole group. Later, Daisy kills Myrtle in an accident, starting a chain of events leading to Gatsby’s world’s collapse.
As it turns out, the fall does bring new beginnings. But they are hardly the ones Daisy would have hoped for. Wilson, Myrtle, and Gatsby are dead, Nick breaks up with Jordan and leaves New York. Meanwhile, Tom and Daisy part ways with the others and leave.