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
When Maurice returns to Penge, he begins to think that a “rearrangement” is taking place, and he owes it all to Mr. Lasker Jones. The gamekeeper, Scudder, comes to apologize to Maurice for displeasing him the day before. At dinner, Maurice and the rector, Mr. Borenius, argue about whether Scudder should be confirmed before emigrating. After they have finished, Maurice runs into Scudder. Scudder says he is planning to emigrate to Argentina. Maurice writes another statement for Mr. Lasker Jones before falling asleep. Maurice wakes up to hear himself calling out, “Come!” Moments later, someone he hardly recognizes moves toward him and says, “Sir, was you calling out for me?” then touches him.
Upon returning to Penge, the estate that symbolizes the entrenched homophobia of England’s socio-economic structures, Maurice thinks he might be becoming less gay and that he might be stepping into the heteronormativity and homophobia that life at Penge represents. But, in the form of a dream, his subconscious urges him toward a different path when he calls out, “Come!” Alec is depicted as somewhat similar to the figure in Maurice’s recurring Sunnington dream, existing as someone Maurice barely recognizes until he comes closer, as if stepping out of a dream himself to become a real person who can touch Maurice.
Themes
