Character Analysis Of Miles 'Epiphany In Miles'

Throughout Miles’ journey, Miles becomes more appreciative, for his and others’ life. While walking on the beach, Miles observes a seashell and has an epiphany, “Those shells, as unique and timeless as bones, helped me realize, that in the life on Earth, we are houseflies, here for one flash of light,” (45). Miles’ epiphany is that his life on earth will not last forever. After his “one flash of light,” he will be gone. Humans only get one chance to live on earth and Miles realizes he needs to be thankful that he has friends who watch over him and beautiful marine life to discover. He appreciates his life, but cares more for others. After finding Florence dead, Miles expresses his thoughts about her death, “After the ambulance rolled away, …show more content…
In order to be self reliant he must first let go of the idea that his mother is going to come back for him. At the dinner table Miles finds out his mother is parents are on the edge of divorce and that his mother is leaving to stay with his Aunt Janet, “‘I’m going to stay with your aunt Janet in Seattle. ‘For the night?’ ‘For a while,’” (181). Although Miles has suspicions that his parents are getting a divorce, he has hope that they will stay together. Miles later tries to contact his mom after she leaves for Seattle, but instead he finds that she went to visit Chicago, a city she always wanted to visit, but Miles’ father would never take her. This emptiness drags Miles down. To continue on his successful journey, he must let go of all things that weigh him down. Miles not only needs to forget about his mother 's absence, but Florence’s as well. To be self reliant Miles must forget about Florence, the one person who was always there for him for support. After Florence dies, death is all that Miles can think about. Miles can’t move on, even while paddling out to sea with Angie. Miles is dreading being without Florence; “... I tried to paddle without thinking about Florence,”(246). If Miles thinks about her, he could forget about what he really loves; learning and discovering. Florence is the only person who took Miles in and cared for him, more than his parents. Miles must also let go of his parents marriage …show more content…
During Miles’ summer, he decides that he would like to have a permit allowing him to explore all marine creatures and possibly sell them to aquariums; “Professor Kramer had helped me get a specimen collector’s agreement and a commercial clamming license from the state,” (27). Miles chooses to study and explore marine life, instead of wasting time and staring at the wall, as most teenagers do during summer. He takes the initiative to get an agreement, in order to study marine life and share the marine life with others who are not as fortunate enough to live on the bay. While Phelps digs for marine life to sell, Miles shares his knowledge of sea life with Phelps; “I showed Phelps how sand dollars travel by moving one grain of sand at a time with their tiny, glistening velcro- like feet,”(53). Phelps is listening to Miles lecture him on his recent studying of sand dollars and how they move. Miles not only wants to learn about marine life every chance he gets, but he wants to share his findings with friends and the public. While walking the beach with Angie, Miles finds unhatched eggs; “Mostly, they’re protein for everyone else.’ I reached into the kelp bottomed cup, plucked an unhatched egg loose and dropped it onto my tongue,”(208). Miles shows enthusiasm while eating these eggs. Even though he knows there could be consequences for eating the eggs, he is