A secret is a reality hidden from others; it is not a truth whose characteristics are openly shared. As a result, the owner of a secret will often go to great lengths to keep them hidden. In The Great Gatsby, this concept is prevalent in the character of Jay Gatsby and how he hides his secrets under a blanket of lies. One day, Gatsby suddenly invites Nick to lunch, and during the trip, Gatsby tells Nick about his life, saying, "I'm the son of some wealthy people in the Middle West, all dead now." I grew up in America but I studied at Oxford, because all my ancestors were educated there for many years'” (Fitzgerald 65) . At this time, Gatsby is telling lies about his past to protect his secret that he grew up penniless and only recently became rich. Gatsby attempts to give Nick the impression that he has always been a wealthy, educated man, but this impression is a smokescreen to hide Gatsby's secret that he is actually just a farmer's son. 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 about being "the son of some wealthy people" and being "educated at Oxford" 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 with the claim that his family is “all dead now.” Although he eventually reveals his secrets to Nick, at this point Gatsby lies to hide the truth. In essence, Gatsby's secrets are just truths and facts that he keeps hidden from others