Book Discussion - chapters 31 and 32

[into_the_greenwood]

After rereading these two chapters for the book discussion, I had to put down the book and go and make myself a cup of tea. The amount of stress Maurice is under at this point in his life is immense, and Forster seems to want to push this so that the reader just about feels as near to breaking point as Maurice.

On the train, Maurice unconsciously responds when an older man comes on to him. Immediately he is disgusted with himself and takes it out on his fellow passenger. By this point Maurice just wants the whole situation to go away; he despises the thought of giving in to his urges, yet is being consumed by what he considers to be inappropriate lust – for Dickie Barry, a boy at the Settlement, and now even a random man on the train to whom he is not even attracted. Totally without the calming influence of Clive's platonic friendship, which gave him some peace over the years, he is obsessed by thoughts of young men and sex.

In his desperation he seeks out Dr Barry who is as much help as he has ever been, yet Maurice is so desperate that he takes on board the doctor's 'advice' and thinks again about seeking out a woman to marry. This time the unfortunate female is Miss Tonks, with whom he attends a concert. Thankfully, Risley appears and through his talk of Tchaikovsky, Maurice is saved again from contemplating marriage too deeply. Instead, the chapter ends with his decision that the only way to still his urges is by hypnosis.

*In reading about Tchaikovsky and 'Bob' why does Maurice not see that it would be possible to have a relationship with another man? Does he believe at this point that he had his one chance with Clive and that is it? Despite reading about the composer and his nephew, he still wishes to be changed and not desire men any longer, but surely what everything thus far has taught him is that this is impossible.

*Maurice speaks of turning 'to the practices he had abandoned as a boy'. Does he mean masturbation? I thought so, and yet it seems extraordinary that he has managed to refrain from doing this, especially during the dry years of Clive, not to mention recent times when he thought almost non-stop about other men. What do you think about this self-restraint?

Comments

[queen_ypolita]

In reading about Tchaikovsky and 'Bob' why does Maurice not see that it would be possible to have a relationship with another man?
I'm not sure. Maybe because Maurice's ideal has always been a "friend", someone near to his own age. I think the Tchaikovsky story comes across as an old unhappy old man perving over a young relative, which might not be the kind of future he wants to imagine, particularly not after his remorse over the Dickie episode.

*Maurice speaks of turning 'to the practices he had abandoned as a boy'. Does he mean masturbation?
That's what I thought. I'm not sure I can believe he's not done it at all since he was younger, but if he's trained himself to go without (or very little), maybe it's only now that he's been defining his feelings as lust that keeping himself busy isn't enough to go on as he used to.

[trueriver]

Yes I agree on both points. Masturbation has been so overlaid with shame and something always to be repressed or denied that it offered him little relief from the outset. It seems there is no positive validation of Maurice's feelings to be found anywhere, no-one he can confide in, and only one acceptable way forward, as far as society is concerned, if he is to find any kind of *relief*, i.e. marriage. I don't think there is any mention anywhere of the availability of prostitutes, is there - although of course Maurice, would not have taken up that option.

[angie-sylvie.livejournal.com]

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.

[sandpipersummer]

It seems a little unbelievable, but I suppose if he was trying NOT to think about other boys and latterly other men whilst he was doing it, it would be exhausting I think.

He must have had wet dreams, and i think he had many when dreaming of his elusive friend. :)

(aka into_the-greenwood who can't log in!)

[sweet_fallacy]

On the train, Maurice unconsciously responds when an older man comes on to him. Immediately he is disgusted with himself and takes it out on his fellow passenger.

I felt that it was more about Maurice seeing himself in the old man rather than a response he gave when caught off-guard. As if the pervert was his lust personified, "disgusting and dishonorable."

[into_the_greenwood]

I agree up to a point, but he did unconsciously respond to the man before realising what he had done, so I think there's an element of disgust about that, too, considering how he feels about masturbation. To have openly admitted that he was interested would have shocked him I think.

[sweet_fallacy]

Of course, you're right.