Sexual Awareness/Self Discovery

The novel begins with Maurice receiving the birds and the bees talk from one of his teachers. Maurice finds the discussion mildly interesting but cannot reconcile it with his budding sexual awareness. When Maurice goes off to a new school with older boys who are also beginning to become aware of their sexuality, Maurice cannot become interested in the jokes and stories the other boys share. Finally, at Cambridge, Maurice finds a group of boys who appear to have the same thoughts and feelings he has.

Maurice is raised in a religious family where there are certain expectations for every member of the family. As the only son and provider for his sisters and mother, Maurice is expected not only to get a job to support the family financially, but to marry and have children. Maurice is aware of these expectations early in his life...