Life and DEATH

While Victor works tirelessly on his monster in the search for the prolongation of life, he is also mentally consumed by the idea of death. Death is a recurring theme in the novel. His fascinations with the rise and fall of the human body go hand in hand. One cannot have death without life. " 'I wait but for one event, and then I shall repose in peace.' " Here on page 13, Victor is explaining that he cannot tell Robert the secret to his creation of life, but he would rather see to what he has to do and die peacefully. Even in the beginning, it is clear that Victor sees death as some sort of relief. Still, he states that he cannot die until he does what is necessary to understand the monster. Even though death is not too present in the beginning of the novel, it seems self evident that Victor will eventually die. It is also clear that it is his thirst for knowledge that leads to his destruction. Not only does his creation promise to be the end of him, but it is also the cause of the death of his brother. Sometimes, in playing God, things don't go as planned.