Book Discussion - chapters 37 to 39

[into_the_greenwood]

At the beginning of Chapter 37, Maurice now cares 'less for Clive, than Clive for him'. The hand kissing and Clive not paying him any attention has at last freed Maurice from the confines of his previous feelings and loyalty towards his first love. This, alongside his hypnosis session in London seems to have set something free inside Maurice. He looks at the Durhams with fresh eyes. And not just them, but also the society in which he moves.

The outdoors seems to be more real, its sights, sounds and smells no longer drift by Maurice. At this point they seem to be more real than the 'dry' people he has to interact with indoors. Everything about his life seems incongruous, and his mind at last is rid of voices and confusion. What indeed does the correct dress matter when one is stuck with dull people? It's almost as if an abscess or boil has burst open after a long period of putrification, and now the mess is cleared away new, healthy skin can grow.

This healthiness comes in the form of Alec Scudder. He enters the story as merely a gamekeeper mentioned in passing, then progresses to Scudder before, in chapter 38 becoming Alec. His imminent departure to the Argentine makes Alec brave, yet he only considers that he and Maurice will have sex before he is sent on his way. Maurice, of course, has reached full realisation of who and what Alec is by this point and they spend the entire night together, waking early 'in each other's arms'.

They form a bond that night which is continued the follwing day during the cricket match. Alec and Maurice make perfect partners for each other. However, when Clive appears and takes over Alec's position Maurice is knocked out immediately. Following this, Maurice seems to be plagued with doubt about what happened the night before. He panics, and runs away, vomiting profusely when he reaches his room.

*In bed, when Maurice and Alec are seemingly talking of the fairly innocuous, Maurice damns the church and Alec mentions that he had never put his head under water. There is a similar mention of ducking under water and its relation to baptism in 'A Room with a View' in the scene when the men are skinny dipping in the pond. What do you think Forster is trying to say here?

*What do you think Alec feels when they are partners at cricket? Is he aware of something happening above and beyond a quick fuck with a man he takes a fancy to?

*What do you think Alec is thinking about Maurice's question 'Did you ever dream you had a friend? …Someone to last your whole life…'

*When Maurice runs away and is sick because of the panic he feels, what thoughts about the situation do you think are going through his mind?

*Also, Anne confesses something to Clive - I wonder what *that* was?!

Cricket on the Village Green painting by Kevin Walsh

Comments

[angie-sylvie.livejournal.com]

I do think Alec becomes aware of something emotional happening between them during the match, because of the letter he writes in the next chapter that says, "I since cricket match do long to talk with one of my arms round you, then place both arms round you and share with you, the above now seems sweeter to me than words can say."

Forster gives no real indication of Alec's reaction to Maurice's "friend" comments, and I think maybe he doesn't really consider the full meaning of Maurice's words until later on. He's more concerned with getting on with his duties at the time.

When Maurice runs away, it's as if Clive showing up has poisoned his "fragile" understanding with Alec. He's just lost his virginity after all, in very unexpected circumstances and then he's expected to act completely normal in front of all those people - with Alec there too - the next day and it's all too much. Also I think he feels he's dishonoured his host's home in his absence.

I tend to think myself that Maurice's "full realisation of who and what Alec is" actually happens somewhat later, during their talk at the British Museum. There's a glimmer of understanding on the cricket pitch, but then he loses it again for a while when his class-consciousness comes to the fore.

[into_the_greenwood]

When Maurice runs away, it's as if Clive showing up has poisoned his "fragile" understanding with Alec.

Oh yes, I agree. Clive does come blundering in and spoiling things for them both when they were complementing each other so beautifully. I think that must have kick-started all the worried feelings and the panic about what was happening.

Yes, you're right. I think in the next chapters when Maurice completely misunderstands Alec's first letter is one of the saddest parts of the novel, because Alec is laying himself bare too, but Maurice doesn't see it...but that's for a future discussion!