What does Gatsby really want out of his life within the context of the novel?The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

As Jay Gatsby stands in his yard looking at the green
light on the dock of Daisy Buchanan's property in Chapter One of The Great
Gatsby, there may be some doubt as to what all he desires; however, there is
no doubt about what Jay Gatsby does not want.  He does not want to be a poor farmer like
his father.  And, once he is called over to Dan Cody's boat, Jay Gatsby knows that he
does want, what he perceives as "The American Dream."  This American Dream is, of
course, illusionary.  But, Jay Gatsby pursues it as one does the Holy
Grail.

For Jay, his perception and pursuit of the
noveau riche is constant.  He vies for lavish parties against those
at East Egg; his house is resplendent; his pool as beautiful as a glacier lake.  When
Daisy comes to his house, he open drawers and pull out shirts of every color in order to
impress her with his material acquisitions.  His car is so magnificent that it takes on
mythological proportions.  But, above all this, as Nick remarks in Chapter Eight, Jay
pursues Daisy as the chilvaric knights have sought the Holy Grail.  For, in Gatsby's
eyes, Daisy in her white car and dresses, is a purity personified and that which he
seeks.  In fact, it is the discrepancy betwen Jay's illusion of Daisy and all that she
stands for and the reality of the Jazz Age which kills Gatsby.