# Miles — The Turn of the Screw character guide > Miles in The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. **Role:** major **Also known as:** little Miles, Master Miles, Little Miles, Dear little Miles, dear little Miles, the boy, dear little Miles, Master Miles **First appearance:** 0001-i ## Snapshot A beautiful, preternaturally charming boy sent home from school without explanation, whose easy manners and unfinished sentences keep the governess guessing at what he knows. ## Who they are Miles is the master's nephew, entrusted to Bly along with his sister and forbidden any mention of the school that expelled him. He is affectionate, disarming, and unnervingly self-possessed — a child who seems to be managing the adults around him. His charm is the governess's chief comfort and her deepest unease, and his silences push the story toward the questions she cannot ask. ## Relationships ### [Mrs. Grose](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/characters/mrs_grose) _friendship_ Mrs. Grose has a fond, protective relationship with Miles, though she is troubled by his mysterious expulsion from school. ### [The Master](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/characters/the_master) _family_ The Master is Miles's uncle and guardian, but he remains distant and uninvolved, leaving the children entirely in the governess's care. ### [Flora](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/characters/flora) _family_ Flora and Miles are siblings who share a close, conspiratorial bond, often presenting a united front against the governess. ### [Miss Jessel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/characters/miss_jessel) _psychological_ The governess suspects Miles has a secret, corrupting connection with Miss Jessel's ghost, though this is never confirmed. ### [Mrs. Grose](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/characters/mrs_grose) _friendship_ Mrs. Grose has a fond, protective relationship with Miles, though she is troubled by his mysterious expulsion from school. ### [The Master](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/characters/the_master) _family_ The Master is Miles's uncle and guardian, but he remains distant and uninvolved, leaving the children entirely in the governess's care. ## In the story ### [Prologue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/prologue) The small nephew of the master, sent to school and about to return to Bly for the holidays. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/i) Mentioned as the governess's other pupil, expected to arrive on Friday. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/ii) Mentioned as the boy expelled from school; not yet seen by the governess. ### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/iii) Arrives at Bly; the governess is struck by his beauty and innocence, and she decides to ignore the letter about his expulsion. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/iv) Described as innocent and angelic; the governess believes his school expulsion was unjust. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/vi) Mentioned as the one Quint was looking for; the governess notes he has never spoken of Quint. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/viii) Discussed in terms of his past with Quint; Mrs. Grose reveals he lied about spending time with Quint and that he had been 'bad' in the past. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/ix) Shows remarkable cleverness and talent, particularly in music and performance; the governess wonders about his expulsion from school. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/x) Miles is seen on the lawn at night, looking up at the tower, suggesting he is involved with the supernatural presence. The governess considers confronting him but hesitates. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xi) Explains his nighttime excursion as a deliberate act of 'badness,' charmingly deflecting the governess's questions. ### [Chapter XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xii) Seen at a distance with Flora, smiling and kissing hands, but the governess believes he is secretly communicating with the dead. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xiii) Shares in the tacit arrangement of avoidance; his upward look reminds the governess of Quint's apparition; he and Flora kiss her with 'wild irrelevance' and ask about their uncle. ### [Chapter XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xiv) Assertively demands to return to school, displays precocious awareness of the governess's fears, and threatens to summon his uncle. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xv) His probing questions and implied challenge to the governess's authority have left her feeling exposed and manipulated. ### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xvi) Reported by Mrs. Grose as saying 'We must do nothing but what she likes!' regarding the governess's absence. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xvii) Engages in a tense conversation with the governess, revealing his desire to leave Bly and his awareness of her secret motives; he blows out the candle during a supernatural moment. ### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xviii) Performs brilliantly in lessons, plays the piano to distract the governess, and is suspected of being with Quint. ### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xx) Appears later in the evening, sitting silently with the governess by the fire, sharing a quiet companionship. ### [Chapter XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xxi) Suspected of stealing and destroying the governess's letter; the governess hopes he will confess. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xxii) Shows unusual composure and intelligence, testing the governess's authority with subtle defiance. ### [Chapter XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xxiii) Shows anxiety and fear for the first time, evades the governess's questions, and lies about needing to see Luke. ### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xxiv) Confesses to taking the letter and to having been expelled for saying things to friends; sees Quint's ghost and dies in the governess's arms. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/characters/miles - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/characters