Playing God in RUR and Frankenstein

Victor Frankenstein and the character’s in Capek’s RUR make attempts at playing God when they create life, however they seem to have different motives.  Victor Frankenstein was motivated by family and relationship issues, as well as his own ego, to create his creature, while old Rossum was motivated to show that God isn’t necessary for life and young Rossum was motivated by the desire for wealth.  Though they had different motives, the stories ended somewhat similarly, with the destruction of Victor in Frankenstein and the destruction of the human race in RUR.  Both stories can be considered cautionary tales that warn us against overstepping boundaries in a quest for something unnatural.  The idea of a cautionary tale appears to be a theme in the science fiction genre that may stem from the uncertainty that comes with scientific advancement and the dangers it may hold.