Characters

The main character in the short story “We Can’t Be Good at Everything” by Emma Sloley is Miles Warden. The story is told from his point of view. Miles is mainly characterized by his feelings for his mother and by how Fenella’s absence during his childhood has affected him. He seems desperate not to repeat Fenella’s parenting mistakes with his own child but, ironically, he might end up doing just that.

Miles’s relationship with his mother, Fenella Warden, is at the center of the narrative. Miles resents Fenella for her absence during his childhood. Fenella is aware of Miles’s resentment, but she does not regret her choices, nor does she want to change herself in any way now. 

You can read a full characterization of Miles Warden and the relationship between Miles and Fenella in the following pages.