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 and another guest, Archie London, are leaving Penge at the same time. The gamekeeper, Alec Scudder, who took them both to shoot rabbits, is asking for a tip, and Maurice tells Mr. London that he already tried to give the man five bob, but he wouldn’t take it. Maurice and Mr. London share observations about the deteriorating quality of servants before Mr. London offers the man a tip, which the man takes because London gave him more money than Maurice had offered. Maurice goes to yell at the man but is interrupted by Anne, who has come to see them off.
In their first interaction, Maurice thinks that Alec is rude and entitled. The tension reveals Maurice’s class pretentions, if not his outright prejudices. Maurice is quick to assume the worst of Alec because he does not belong to the same economic class as him, and he is quick hesitate to besmirch Alec’s character to others.
Themes
As he approaches the hypnotist’s office, Maurice can’t believe that he is going to consult a “quack.” After he gives Lasker Jones his statement to read, he asks, Was I wrong to come to you? Mr. Lasker Jones says, “Not at all, Mr. Hall. Seventy-five percent of my patients are of your type.” Mr. Lasker Jones diagnoses him with “congenital homosexuality.” During hypnosis, Maurice has the dream again in which he sees a face and hears a voice far off say, “That’s your friend.” Lasker Jones urges Maurice to spend more time in the country, and after going back and forth in his mind for a few moments, Maurice decides to travel back to Penge.
While Lasker Jones attempts to hypnotize Maurice out of being gay, Maurice once again experiences his foundational dream from Sunnington, which clarifies how important selfless love is to him. Instead of following that dream as a guide, Maurice adheres to Lasker Jones's advice. When he decides to return to Penge, Maurice seeks shelter at the estate Clive inherited after he abandoned Maurice and accepted the restrictions of heteronormativity. Penge thus serves as a symbol of the homophobia embedded in the socio-economic structures of England at the time.
Themes
