To what extent, at this half way point in the novel, has Gatsby achieved his dream?

When reading the first half of Fitzgeralds classic American novel, it becomes apparent the Gatsby has a clear dream that he pursues. It is evident that his life seems to revolve around the elaborate fantasy of fufilling this ambition; from his life style choices to what seems to be a compelling obsession to create a wealthy, typical Oxford gentleman persona about himself. But what is Gatsbys dream? If we look at the evidence in the first five chapters of the novel, it looks as if Gatsbys aspirations centre around Daisy. As the novel progresses, more information is revealed about Gatsbys past, and the reader becomes aware of Daisy and Gatsbys previous history and the fact that there affair would not progress into marriage because of their difference in social class. Since then, Gatsby has crafted himself, his personality and his reputation into a tool in which to romance Daisy with and this is the main component of Gatsbys dream - to reacquire Daisys love. Jay Gatsby longs for the past; his dreams and his thoughts display that. Chapter 5, which is around the half way point of the novel, is a key chapter in the novel and Gatsby and Daisys supposedly rekindled love is the hinge on which the rest of the novel swings. After the initial awkwardness of the reunion between Daisy and Gatsby, things seem to be going well and an obvious step is made towards achieving Gatsbys dream. When with Daisy, Gatsbys character seems to be at its most purest form. The theatrical quality that is normally associated to Gatsbys character does not seem to be prominent when alone with Daisy and Gatsbys dialogue seems genuine; the oxford graduate socialite being replaced with the love-stricken and awkward young man that Gatsby is in reality. But how far does Gatsby and Daisys relationship actually fulfill Gatsbys dream? In Gatsbys viewpoint, the couple will hopefully express undevoted love towards each other and Daisy will leave her husband, Tom. However, it seems apparent to the reader that, to Daisy, this is merely an affair; an opportunity to endeavor in the same adulterous activities that she is aware her husband participates in. Although their relationship seems to be genuinely loving, the fact that Daisy feels the need to continue her affair through Nick suggest that Daisy does not have the intention to make their relationship anything more than an extramarital affair. When Daisy and Gatsby are first reintroduced to each other, in Nicks house, Gatsby knocks over a clock. This symbolises the stopping of time, the fact that time will not be allowed to progress and Gatsby and Daisys relationship will not be allowed to progress to anything more than it was in the past. Gatsbys personal dream is a symbolism to another theme of the novel, which is the American Dream. The pursuit of happiness is the main aspect to the dream that attracts numerous people to America. Gatsbys ambition to pursue Daisy resembles the ambition of

America in the Roaring Twenties and the drive in the countrys economic condition and the motivation of the population to drive America into the economic giant it is today. So, in conclusion, within the Chapter, Gatsby has certainly made a leap of progress in