Cripes! That's a very nice picture you have there representing Dickie Barry. Goodness. *fans self*
Let's speak about Clive first. Yes, it's a cowardly thing to do, and totally unfeeling. For Anne to tell Maurice that he's the eight person contacted is a good thing, at least it lets Maurice know exactly where he stands with Clive because I'm perfectly sure that Clive would not have the guts to be honest even he were confronted by Maurice. He's constructed the ideal world in his head, and is working to get that world, and will not appreciate in the short term (or ever) the sacrifices he's had to make.
The Dickie Barry episode thankfully shows both us and Maurice of his real inclinations. That he can admit to himself, even if it is after a few days reflection, that it was purely lust that drove him to come on to Dickie then thankfully he is not lost to the world - unlike Clive. He goes on to recognise something similar in his dealings with the Frenchman.
I do wonder what would have happened had he actually done something physical with either of him. It seems that by this point an explosion of sexual feeling could be just what he needs. Although, those of us in the know can see that he gets the sex, combined with other things, with Alec that no one else could provide. Obviously with Dickie the sex would have been a bit problematic seeing as Dickie isn't that way inclined (although accepting of the possibility of it happening), but what about the Frenchman? How would Maurice have felt afterwards? Relief? Disgust? Would he have been capable of acting purely on a physical level with no regrets?
He's now stuck of course. Total self knowledge about who he is and what he wants, combined with knowing that the life he is living doesn't really belong to him. I think this must be a very difficult time for him because a lot of people get to this stage in life and are consequently unable to do much about it.
So, really, Maurice is lucky (though he can't appreciate it right now) that Clive has turned away from their love, has become engaged, put him eighth as a friend and consequently acts as a bit of a prat later when Maurice goes to Penge. You could say that Clive very helpfully facilitates the further of events in the book between Maurice and Alec.
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Let's speak about Clive first. Yes, it's a cowardly thing to do, and totally unfeeling. For Anne to tell Maurice that he's the eight person contacted is a good thing, at least it lets Maurice know exactly where he stands with Clive because I'm perfectly sure that Clive would not have the guts to be honest even he were confronted by Maurice. He's constructed the ideal world in his head, and is working to get that world, and will not appreciate in the short term (or ever) the sacrifices he's had to make.
The Dickie Barry episode thankfully shows both us and Maurice of his real inclinations. That he can admit to himself, even if it is after a few days reflection, that it was purely lust that drove him to come on to Dickie then thankfully he is not lost to the world - unlike Clive. He goes on to recognise something similar in his dealings with the Frenchman.
I do wonder what would have happened had he actually done something physical with either of him. It seems that by this point an explosion of sexual feeling could be just what he needs. Although, those of us in the know can see that he gets the sex, combined with other things, with Alec that no one else could provide. Obviously with Dickie the sex would have been a bit problematic seeing as Dickie isn't that way inclined (although accepting of the possibility of it happening), but what about the Frenchman? How would Maurice have felt afterwards? Relief? Disgust? Would he have been capable of acting purely on a physical level with no regrets?
He's now stuck of course. Total self knowledge about who he is and what he wants, combined with knowing that the life he is living doesn't really belong to him. I think this must be a very difficult time for him because a lot of people get to this stage in life and are consequently unable to do much about it.
So, really, Maurice is lucky (though he can't appreciate it right now) that Clive has turned away from their love, has become engaged, put him eighth as a friend and consequently acts as a bit of a prat later when Maurice goes to Penge. You could say that Clive very helpfully facilitates the further of events in the book between Maurice and Alec.
Finally - that picture is HOT!