what does victor want to accomplish in life? why does he turn to the study of mathematics? what prevents him from continuing his study?

Victor is interested in conquering death. He has the rather crazy notion of bringing eternal life to the world. Victor is also preoccupied with the question of how one might communicate with ­ or even raise ­ the dead. He finds no answer in the works of his Roman idols, and becomes entirely disillusioned with them when he witnesses a lightning storm. Since the Romans have no satisfactory explanation for this phenomenon, Victor renounces them entirely and devotes himself (at least for the time being) to the study of mathematics. It's the closest thing to what interests him. Victor can't keep his math study going because he is still obsessed with metaphysical. He turns once again to his very dark theories on creating life.