# Mr. Turnstile — Passages from the Life of a Philosopher character guide

> Mr. Turnstile in Passages from the Life of a Philosopher by Charles Babbage.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Turnstile, Griskin Mr. Turnstile, poor Turnstile, Footman Mr. Turnstile

**First appearance:** 0040-xxii-scene-from-a-new-afterpiece-called-politics-and-poetry-or-the-decline-of-science

## Who they are

A philosopher-MP who wants to be a man of the world, Turnstile lets Lady Flumm's flattery and Lord Flumm's dinners pull him from his Shoreditch constituents and his unfinished book.

## Relationships

### [Lord Flumm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters/lord_flumm)

_professional_

Lord Flumm and Mr. Turnstile have a frequent professional interaction, likely as employer and trusted agent or secretary.

### [Byeways](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters/byeways)

_professional_

Byeways and Mr. Turnstile appear to be close professional associates, possibly colleagues in a bureaucratic or legal setting.

### [Mr. Tripes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters/mr_tripes)

_professional_

Mr. Tripes and Mr. Turnstile have a frequent professional relationship, likely as business partners or fellow administrators.

### [Smooth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters/smooth)

_professional_

Mr. Turnstile and Smooth interact often, suggesting a professional dynamic where Smooth may be a subordinate or assistant.

### [MacLeech](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters/macleech)

_rivalry_

MacLeech and Mr. Turnstile are likely rivals or antagonists, given their high interaction count and contrasting roles.

### [Closewind](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters/closewind)

_professional_

Closewind and Mr. Turnstile have a professional relationship, possibly as colleagues in a government office.

### [Lord Flumm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters/lord_flumm)

_professional_

Lord Flumm and Mr. Turnstile have a frequent professional interaction, likely as employer and trusted agent or secretary.

### [Smooth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters/smooth)

_professional_

Mr. Turnstile and Smooth interact often, suggesting a professional dynamic where Smooth may be a subordinate or assistant.

### [MacLeech](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters/macleech)

_rivalry_

MacLeech and Mr. Turnstile are likely rivals or antagonists, given their high interaction count and contrasting roles.

### [Mr. Tripes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters/mr_tripes)

_professional_

Mr. Tripes and Mr. Turnstile have a frequent professional relationship, likely as business partners or fellow administrators.

### [Byeways](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters/byeways)

_professional_

Byeways and Mr. Turnstile appear to be close professional associates, possibly colleagues in a bureaucratic or legal setting.

### [Lord Flumm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters/lord_flumm)

_professional_

Lord Flumm and Mr. Turnstile have a frequent professional interaction, likely as employer and trusted agent or secretary.

## In the story

### [Act I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/chapters/act-i)

A philosopher and politician, torn between science and politics, courted by the Flumms but betrayed by his supposed allies.

### [Act II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/chapters/act-ii)

A man of science who loses his political seat and the Presidency of the Board of Manufactures to MacLeech, leading him to abandon politics.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters/mr_turnstile
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters