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
Clive is excited to see Maurice again. Early in their engagement, Clive considered telling Anne, his fiancée, about his prior relationship with Maurice. Later, though, Clive is glad he never broached the subject. His marriage to Anne becomes grounded in modesty to the point where they have never seen each other naked and avoid talk of reproductive or digestive functions. So it is for the best, Clive thinks, that he never told Anne about Maurice.
If Clive’s marriage is not built on lies, then it is built on obfuscations. Clive and Anne never discuss bodily functions and never see each other naked, and Clive makes a point to never tell Anne about his relationship with Maurice, showing just how much of himself Clive hides from Anne.
Themes
