Maurice tells the story of Maurice Hall, a young man growing up in Edwardian England, as he comes to terms with his homosexuality in a society that condemns it. At Cambridge, he falls in love with his friend Clive Durham, but Clive later chooses to conform to societal expectations by marrying a woman, leaving Maurice heartbroken. Struggling with self-acceptance and isolation, Maurice attempts to “cure” his sexuality through hypnosis, reflecting the era’s repression and moral rigidity.
Maurice’s life changes when he meets Alec Scudder, a gamekeeper on Clive’s estate, and the two fall in love. Their relationship, built on honesty and passion, offers Maurice a chance at happiness outside societal norms. E.M. Forster’s Maurice—written in 1913 but published posthumously in 1971—boldly defies the conventions of its time by presenting a same-sex romance with a hopeful ending. It is a poignant exploration of identity, courage, and the pursuit of authentic love in the face of societal constraints.
