Over the span of a century, the Pontifex family is populated by manipulative and domineering characters attempting to control the fate of the next generation. In The Way of All Flesh, Ernest Pontifex tries to pursue a righteous path but is met with painstaking hardships. Ernest is the son of Theobald and Christina Pontifex, who are prominent members of the religious order. Ernest attempts to follow in their footsteps, embracing theology and becoming a clergyman. Yet, his position is short-lived as he discovers corruption in the High Church and loses most of his earnings. In the midst of his troubles, Ernest questions the importance of titles, status and family tradition. He travels down a rocky road that tests his faith in both man and God. The Way of All Flesh is a scathing commentary on the hypocritical views and expectations of Victorian society. Butler was praised for his exploration of a destructive family dynamic. It's an erratic tale and one of the most iconic novels of the early twentieth century.