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
Alec and Maurice decide to meet at the British Museum. Alec arrives first. When Maurice arrives for the “most dangerous day of his life,” he has no plan. Maurice looks on Alec with friendliness, though. Alec says that he knows about Maurice’s relationship with Clive, and Maurice tells him not to bring that into all of this. Alec says he also knows it wouldn’t be good for Maurice if certain things came to light. He says he has always been a “respectable young fellow” until Maurice called him into his room to “amuse [himself].” He tells Maurice he’s had his fun and now better pay up. The two are then approached by Mr. Ducie, who recognizes Maurice’s voice but calls him by the name of a different former pupil.
When Maurice and Alec meet for the first time after sleeping together, their nascent relationship has turned sour. Alec keeps hinting that he plans to blackmail Maurice, confirming Maurice’s worst fears. Upon seeing Alec, though, Maurice’s temperament seems to soften, and his fears recede, as he remembers what drew him to Alec in the first place.
Themes
Maurice tells Ducie he’s not who he thinks he is and says his name is Scudder. Alec tells Mr. Ducie that’s not right and that he has a serious accusation to make against Maurice. Mr. Ducie laughs as if it is all a joke. When Ducie leaves, Maurice says to Alec, “You tried to blackmail me.” Alec tries to deny the accusation. He asks Maurice why he didn’t come to the boathouse. Maurice says he was in a muddle. Alec says talking is no use and offers Maurice his hand. When Maurice takes it, he understands how their physical love, followed by abandonment, must have turned to panic, then fear, and then cruelty in Alec. Alec says, “Sleep the night with me. I know a place.” Maurice says he can’t—he has a prior engagement—but then says, “All right. To Hell with it.”
The arrival of Mr. Ducie presents Alec with an opportunity to escalate his threat of blackmail. When push comes to shove, though, Alec backs down. Maurice has a moment of introspection and empathy, during which he begins to understand how his callousness drove Alec to act cruelly. When both men sense that the tension between them has come from misunderstandings driven by heightened emotions rather than animus, they decide to spend another night together.
Themes
