The novel's opening advice from Nick's father addresses which central theme?

• A. The dangers of excess wealth
• B. Wealth is the measure of success
• C. Hard work guarantees happiness
• D. The advantages some people have over others

Answer: (D)

The main concept is recognizing how privilege and advantages shape people’s opportunities and how we should approach others with humility about our own background. Nick’s father tells him not to judge others because not everyone has had the same start in life, which foregrounds a view of the world where social status and birthright affect what people can do and how they’re treated. In The Great Gatsby, this idea underpins the critique of a society obsessed with wealth and status: Gatsby’s costly pursuit of Daisy, Tom and Daisy’s secure upper-class ease, and Nick’s own more modest upbringing all reveal how unequal starting points shape choices, perceptions, and moral judgments. The opening line thus centers on the unequal advantages people possess and how that shapes the narrative's exploration of wealth, class, and human behavior.