The monster from the novel Frankenstein is a very popular character, and his enduring legacy as an iconic horror figure is one to be reckoned with. It is impossible not to notice the familiar hulking green monster with bolts in its neck during the Halloween season, and there are endless film adaptations of the novel by Mary Shelley. The most recent film starring Jacob Elordi and Mia Goth was directed by Guillermo Del Toro and swept up a few awards at the 98th Academy Film Awards.
While most of the attention is focused on the monster, one must not forget the man who created him. Victor Frankenstein is a complex, tragic figure who is unable to nurture the monster. This has dire consequences and affects the ones Victor loves.
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Get notified of top trending articles like this one every week! (we won't spam you)The Birth of Frankenstein
Before we dive into Frankenstein, we must know the backstory of how this story came to be. Frankenstein (Also known as The Modern Prometheus) was written by Mary Shelley in 1818 while she was on a trip with her husband and friends. Because of the rainy season, they were forced to stay indoors instead of enjoying their trip. To quell their boredom, they decided to have a contest on who could write a scary story. The idea of Frankenstein came to Mary in a dream of a young scientist, horrified by what he had created. At only eighteen years old, Mary incorporated themes of despair into the novel due to the tragedies that had occurred in her own life while also taking inspiration from her husband and the beautiful scenery as she traveled throughout Geneva, Switzerland.
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The Tragedy of Ernest Frankenstein
There are many characters in the novel. The main characters are Victor Frankenstein and the monster. The rest are his family and friends, who are doomed to be the victims of the monster. This includes Victor’s fiancee Elizabeth and his youngest brother, William. Every character is subjected to a bleak fate. Except for one.
Ernest Frankenstein is the middle child, sandwiched between Victor and William. Ernest is six years younger than Victor, and is described as a delicate, kind boy. He does not have a big role in the novel other than sharing Victor’s sadness when their youngest brother is murdered. I have noticed that he is not shown in film adaptations, and most people even forget that he exists. However, I find him to be the most tragic character in the novel despite being forgotten again and again.
What makes Ernest so tragic is that he ends up as the only survivor of the Frankenstein family amid the chaos and turmoil as each of his family members falls victim to the monster. What is even worse is that he will never know the cause of such misery that has befallen his loved ones. Victor never reveals to anybody his secret of creating the monster, as his fear and shame are too great. He is helpless to help those around him because he does not want to reveal his role in it.
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The Lonely Survivor
Therefore, everybody else is left in the dark as to why their family suffers so tremendously. Elizabeth and William, Ernest’s youngest brother and sister-in-law, are murdered. The family nanny Justine, is wrongly accused of harming William and is sentenced to death. Alphonse Frankenstein, his father, succumbs to a broken heart. Only Victor and Ernest remain, but his elder brother abandons him, intent on hunting down the monster and seeking revenge for the harm it has caused his family. Victor eventually dies, weakened from his exhausting journey of vengeance.
That leaves Ernest as the sole survivor. The boy is left all alone with no family, and he will never know the truth. He will be left to wonder about the downfall of the Frankenstein family, and will never be given resolution or justice. I find it interesting that despite having such a small role in the novel and a nonexistent role in film adaptations, Ernest is the most profound and impactful character I have ever read about.
