Sword of Destiny

Death wields significant influence in Sword of Destiny, and its symbolic presence extends beyond the mere termination of life. The greater longevity of certain characters plays an integral part in the narrative, serving as a profound distinction between humans and non-humans, for this contrast is amplified by the brevity of human life spans when compared with the longevity of other beings such as sorcerers and elves. This stark difference is implied to be a contributing factor to the animosity that many humans harbor toward non-humans.

Death also makes an appearance in The Search for Identity that absorbs Geralt, for when Calanthe declares that “[d]eath dogs [his] footsteps [...] but others die” (298), Geralt internalizes her words and views himself as an agent of death. However, his perception of death’s role is deeply misconstrued, as he will discover upon encountering the avatar of Death itself, for she explicitly clarifies the matter by stating, “I do not take anything. I just take people by the hand. So that no one will be alone at that moment” (361). Rather than an embodiment of cruelty, Death offers solace to those in their final moments, and thus, if Geralt is himself an agent of death, then he embodies a more compassionate role than he previously realized.