Corruption Of Gordian Knot In Alexander The Great By Veidt

Becoming the prevailing image, the Gordian Knot serves to exemplify the power hungry nature of Veidt whilst revealing his almost short-cutted method to saving humanity as it stands, exhibiting the corruption that resides within Veidt.
Alluding to Alexander the Great himself, the overwhelming presence of the Gordian Knot symbolism stresses Veidt’s craving for power, ultimately corrupting him as a character. Attempting to uphold an image of perfection while seeking a power greater than existing, it becomes evident in the text that Veidt has in internal power struggle, wanting more control than he has. Directly, the Gordian knot, historically alluding to Alexander the Great, emphasizes Veidt’s need for control over all aspects of life and humanity itself.

Undyingly, Veidt’s desire to follow the path of Alexander the Great is detailed as “I was determined to measure my success against his” (356, 11). Certainly, Veidt’s obsession with having power is directly seen through his aspiration to become an equal to Alexander the Great. Like, the powerful ruler of Macedonia, Veidt wants to “cut the Gordian Knot”, or in his specific case, save society. Consequently, Veidt's Gordian Knot is what deters him down the path of corruption. Veidt wants to be all-powerful so badly that he will take any action to achieve this power, even if it is detrimental to society, exemplified through his utilitarian killing in order to as he believed, save society. Attempting to achieve this almighty sense of self, Veidt began to take action, forcing society to look at himself as the savior of mankind, despite the fact that he had not yet taken action. Veidt became a celebrity within society, propelling individuals to unnecessarily give him power. Veidt describes his personal Gordian Knot, solving of an “intractable problem as “Thus I began my path to conquest not of men but of the evils that beset them”