The Way of All Flesh serves as a biography of Ernest Pontifex, the protagonist. His name is significant, with the name “Ernest” selected by his grandfather to suggest the quality of earnestness, or seriousness of purpose, which was highly valued in Victorian culture. Pontifex, meanwhile, is a word that refers to priests in ancient Rome, signifying Ernest’s expected occupation in a religious family. Ernest’s characteristics include a generally kind and trusting nature. He is also highly susceptible to outside influences, especially that of his parents, whose teachings he accepts unquestioningly until well into his teens. Though he is not particularly bright academically, Ernest develops into a skillful writer once he finds motivation to do so.

Ernest’s development in the novel follows a coming-of-age arc in which he learns to think and act for himself. Throughout most of the novel, Ernest accepts the teachings of the church and his parents with little or no resistance. Following instructions, he progresses all the way to ordination. As Ernest devotes himself to the clergy, Overton finds that Ernest’s “sense of humor and tendency to think for himself” (176) diminish accordingly. From there, several turning points lead Ernest back into a sense of self, including his encounters with his idol, Towneley, his fall into temptation and subsequent prison term, and the disintegration of his marriage to Ellen.