Maurice

Maurice’s grandfather, Mr. Grace, was a businessman before retiring, at which point he became interested in science and philosophy. He has idiosyncratic religious ideas that he enjoys discussing, and his conviction impresses Maurice, who remarks that he wishes he believed in something; Mr. Grace speaks of the “light within” and urges him to be kind. Maurice replies that he no longer has this “light”: “I don’t want to be good or kind or brave. If I go on living I shall be—not those things: the reverse of them. I don’t want that either” (139). Nevertheless, Maurice no longer feels motivated to kill himself: “He was practically alone, and why should he go on living? There was really no reason, yet he had a dreary feeling he should, because he had not got Death either” (140).

In his loneliness, Maurice decides to improve himself: “He set himself to acquire new habits […] Punctuality, courtesy, patriotism, chivalry even—here were a few. He practised a severe self-discipline” (141). When Ada becomes engaged to his old friend Chapman, he finally apologizes for the way he spoke to her about Clive. He also pays for Kitty to attend the Domestic Institute, as she’s wanted for several years. However, Kitty continues to hold a grudge, and all three women respect him less than they once did: “She and Ada incited each other to thwart him in little things. Mrs Hall was shocked at first and rebuked them, but finding her son too indifferent to protect himself, she grew indifferent too” (143).

Meanwhile, Maurice begins donating to and participating in various charitable activities (e.g. teaching math and boxing to working-class men). His efforts make him a better and more mature person, although he remains unhappy. 

Not long after Mr. Grace’s death, Mrs. Hall receives a letter from Mrs. Durham, which says that Clive is engaged to Lady Anne Woods. She announces this to the family over breakfast; upset, Maurice excuses himself to go wake up Dr. Barry’s son Dickie, who is visiting the Halls. Entering Dickie’s room, Maurice is immediately struck by his good looks.

Maurice wakes Dickie and returns downstairs. When Dickie joins the table, Maurice arranges to spend much of the day with him. They later cross paths on their way to bed; Maurice remarks that Dickie is sleeping in his usual room, and hints that he’s “above […] [i]n the attic over this—if [Dickie] want[s] anything—all night alone” (149). Though uncomfortable, Dickie lets the remark pass and goes to bed.

After Dickie leaves, Maurice is deeply ashamed of his behavior. He resolves to stay away from other men: “For example, a pupil at the Settlement—He wrinkled his nose, as one who needs no further proof. The feeling that can impel a gentleman towards a person of lower class stands self-condemned” (151).

While at work one day, Maurice receives a call from Clive. He invites Maurice to lunch with his fiancée; Maurice declines, but speaks to Anne briefly on the phone. When Clive gets back on the line, he presses him about visiting Penge, and asks Maurice to help invest Anne’s money. Maurice agrees, and buys a wedding present later that afternoon.

While Maurice is commuting to work one day, an older man propositions him. The episode disturbs him enough that he decides to seek a possible “cure” for his being gay. He tentatively asks the doctor who treated Clive whether he ever “come[s] across unspeakables of the Oscar Wilde sort” (156). The doctor doesn’t, and his evident distaste for the subject stops Maurice from asking more.

Maurice visits Dr. Barry next. He alludes to the topic’s sensitive nature and begins crying, leading Barry to assume he’s talking about an STD. When Maurice takes offense, Barry then guesses he’s impotent, but finds nothing wrong with him on examination. Finally, Maurice makes himself clear, but Barry refuses to believe what Maurice is saying: “Who put that lie into your head? You whom I see and know to be a decent fellow! We’ll never mention it again. No—I'll not discuss. I’ll not discuss. The worst thing I could do for you is to discuss it” (159). He then ushers Maurice out.

The fact that a medical authority believes he’s mistaken about his sexuality gives Maurice pause. He’s also approaching his 24th birthday, which is roughly when Clive’s feelings changed: “Was it possible that he would turn also...and now that he came to think, few men married before twenty-four” (161). The thought that he might be able to marry cheers Maurice, who wants to have children and fit in with society.

Around this time, Maurice runs into Risley after a concert; Risley informs him that Tchaikovsky dedicated this particular piece—the Pathétique Symphonie—to a nephew he was in love with. After researching this, Maurice is certain of his orientation: “The episode of the composer’s marriage conveys little to the normal reader, who vaguely assumes incompatibility, but it thrilled Maurice. He knew what the disaster meant and how near Dr Barry had dragged him to it” (162). Nevertheless, he remains lonely and desperate, and begins considering consulting a hypnotist Risley told him about.