Maurice by E. M. Forster is a brilliant portrait of love and the arduous journey to sexual identity. The story is based on a homosexual love of Maurice Hall in early 20th-century England. It narrates his life from schooldays through university and beyond. Maurice had grown up a bit uncertain of who he is, but as he grew older, he began to realize that he was gay. At that time in England, gay men were not acceptable at all. Maurice would fall in love with one fellow Clive Durban while at the University. They kept their strong relationship a secret from the world. They would eventually break up when Clive decided to marry and keep his sexuality a secret. Maurice, who used to be Christian but is not anymore due to Clive’s influence, became a stockbroker and went on with his life. He tries to cure himself of this “sickness,” but it does not work. He is still gay, and he instead falls in love with another man, Alec.
The novel explores homosexuality, and the whole story is about Maurice as he deals with his sexual orientation. Maurice is able to discover, express, explore, and learn about his homosexuality and the different forms it can have. He starts by experimenting with platonic to raw as he meets new people with different views. Maurice is eventually able to develop an inner acceptance of his sexuality, unlike Clive, who kept his sexuality a secret.
Furthermore, the book also brings out the case of mysticism. The story suggests that something might be influencing Maurice, something that is beyond our human senses. This influence is portrayed in different ways, like in his childhood dream and the fact that Maurice is able to sense Alec outside his window despite him not knowing. The novel presents a good case of accepting one’s sexual orientation.
