A secret is a reality that is protected from others; it is not a truth whose characteristics are openly shared. Subsequently, the owner of a secret will often do their best to keep their secrets hidden. In The Great Gatsby, this concept is prevalent in the character of Jay Gatsby and the way he hides his secrets under blankets of lies. One day, Gatsby suddenly invites Nick to lunch, and during the ride, Gatsby tells Nick about his life, saying, "I'm the son of rich people from the Midwest, all dead now." I was brought up in America but I was educated at Oxford, for all my ancestors were educated there for many years” (Fitzgerald 65). In this moment, Gatsby is telling lies about his past in order to protect his secret that he was raised penniless and only recently became rich. Gatsby tries to give Nick the impression that he has always been a rich and educated man, but this impression is only a smokescreen to hide Gatsby's secret that he is really just a son of a farmer. This truth about Gatsby's origin is constantly hidden by Gatsby himself, and he goes to great lengths to ensure that his secrets do not become public. He keeps his true origins secret by circulating lies that he is "the son of some rich people" and was "educated at Oxford" in order to better protect his own interests and not let others know his true past. Not only does Gatsby lie to protect his secrets, but he ensures that his lies cannot be traced by stating that his family is "all dead now." Although he eventually reveals his secrets to Nick, at this point Gatsby lies to hide the truth. Essentially, Gatsby's secrets are just truths and facts that he hides from others.