Regarding prostitutes. Dr Barry assumes Maurice has caught some sort of venereal disease from "women" whilst at Cambridge. Afterwards Maurice thinks, "He hated Dr Barry's mind; to tolerate prostitution struck him as beastly." Though as you say, Trueriver, he wouldn't be interested even though apparently prostitutes were available. There was mention of "even Chapman" sowing some wild oats, too.
I took it as meaning he'd never masturbated since adolescence, when he gave it up as bringing "more fatigue than pleasure," unbelieveable as that may seem! (Nocturnal emissions would I suppose have to have provided the safety valve.) But now what Clive kept at bay has come back a thousandfold.
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Date: 2009-07-30 11:31 am (UTC)Though as you say, Trueriver, he wouldn't be interested even though apparently prostitutes were available. There was mention of "even Chapman" sowing some wild oats, too.
I took it as meaning he'd never masturbated since adolescence, when he gave it up as bringing "more fatigue than pleasure," unbelieveable as that may seem! (Nocturnal emissions would I suppose have to have provided the safety valve.)
But now what Clive kept at bay has come back a thousandfold.