I think the Dickie episode made him realize that lust alone isn't what he's after, but it's a desire of his nonetheless. I don't think he could go back to the same sort of relationship he had with Clive after this. Now that his more base desires have been reawakened, Maurice starts noticing other men and it begins to alarm him a little... as soon as his head comes back to him. (Funny how easily he fell back into old habits, neglecting his duties in favor of his love interest.) "The feeling that can impel a gentleman towards a person of lower class stands self-condemned." (Now that's a quote that's fun to decipher. Is he condemning those who disregard status to satiate their impure desires? The upper class who abusing their power over the less fortunate? Can Plato's ideal only be true between gentleman?)
And finally, Is it cowardly of Clive not to write to Maurice himself about the engagement? Absolutely, but I also think that the marriage itself is an act of cowardice on Clive's part. And the eighth friend? Ouch. I understand Clive's motives, but nonetheless... ouch.
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Date: 2009-07-19 10:08 pm (UTC)I think the Dickie episode made him realize that lust alone isn't what he's after, but it's a desire of his nonetheless. I don't think he could go back to the same sort of relationship he had with Clive after this. Now that his more base desires have been reawakened, Maurice starts noticing other men and it begins to alarm him a little... as soon as his head comes back to him. (Funny how easily he fell back into old habits, neglecting his duties in favor of his love interest.) "The feeling that can impel a gentleman towards a person of lower class stands self-condemned." (Now that's a quote that's fun to decipher. Is he condemning those who disregard status to satiate their impure desires? The upper class who abusing their power over the less fortunate? Can Plato's ideal only be true between gentleman?)
And finally, Is it cowardly of Clive not to write to Maurice himself about the engagement?
Absolutely, but I also think that the marriage itself is an act of cowardice on Clive's part. And the eighth friend? Ouch. I understand Clive's motives, but nonetheless... ouch.