Ernest Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein’s younger brother, survives the events of the novel and is one of the few Frankenstein family members to escape the tragic fate that befalls most of his relatives.
In Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” Ernest Frankenstein is introduced as the younger brother of Victor Frankenstein, the protagonist and creator of the Creature. Unlike his brother William and Justine Moritz, who are both killed by the Creature in acts of vengeance against Victor, Ernest does not become a direct target of the Creature’s wrath.
Throughout the novel, Ernest is mentioned only a few times, and his character is not as developed as those of other family members. He is depicted as a kind and innocent boy, who is largely unaware of the dark events unfolding around him. After the deaths of his siblings and parents, Ernest’s fate is not explicitly detailed by Mary Shelley. However, it is implied that he is one of the surviving members of the Frankenstein family by the end of the story.
The lack of focus on Ernest’s fate could be interpreted as Shelley’s way of sparing at least one member of the Frankenstein family from the novel’s pervasive tragedy. It also leaves Ernest’s future open to interpretation, as readers are left to imagine what might become of him after the novel’s conclusion. Ernest’s survival could symbolize a glimmer of hope amidst the devastation caused by Victor’s hubris and the Creature’s quest for revenge.
