How does Victor's statement "the world was to me a secret which I desired to divine" serve to develop his characterization?

In essence.................. it means that Victor made science his god and conscience.

The curiosity shown by Victor is ultimately what drives him to try to discover the secret of life. He uses the word "divine" here to mean "to figure out," but as he searches for the way in which one can create life, he also is searching for a way to be divine and create life as God creates life.