Guilt

Guilt is a major theme of "The Tale of the Body Thief" because of Lestat's obsession with his own guilt. At the beginning of the novel, Lestat is overcome with guilt because of the deaths he causes in order to take the blood he needs to survive as a vampire. Lestat once attempted to take blood but leave the victims alive, but found that to be unsatisfying. Lestat then began taking only the lives of those who deserve it. Lestat has begun tracking serial killers and killing them. However, when Lestat takes a life through blood, he also takes that person's memories and experiences. Taking the memories and the experiences of killers is filled with darkness that often leaves Lestat depressed and unsatisfied. For this reason, he slips and takes the life of an old woman had meant to be saving by taking the life of her would-be...