Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Maurice, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Love and Sacrifice
Sexual Orientation, Homophobia, and Self-Acceptance
Masculinity and Patriarchy
Religion
Class
Summary
Analysis
Maurice’s shift from contemplating suicide doesn’t lead to a newfound appreciation for life. He lives on, miserable and increasingly lonely. He practices self-discipline. Ada becomes engaged to his old classmate, Chapman, and knowing that she will not marry Clive, Maurice softens toward her and apologizes for the fight they had after Clive left. He tries to mend his relationship with Kitty, as well, by offering to pay her fees to the Domestic Institute, and while she accepts, she does so ungraciously. It becomes clear that both his sisters dislike him for the way he has treated them over the years. Maurice begins to support social work, even the social work of Church. He also teaches boxing and arithmetic and plays football with local youth and begins to give more money to charity.
Maurice seems to have irrevocably damaged his relationships with his sisters, in part because, for years, he has taken on the role of suburban tyrant, trying to do what he thinks men are supposed to do, embodying norms of masculinity that, deep down, he does not believe in. It's too little, too late, though. He begins to support social work and charity and teaches boxing and arithmetic to local youth. He does this out of the sense that he has to keep going and maintain some kind of dignity while doing so.
Themes
