Homosexual Identity Development in E.M. Forster’s Maurice: How Characters Accept Their Homosexuality

Abstract

This paper aims to elaborate on Maurice Hall’s homosexual identity development in Maurice. It uses Richard R. Troidden’s homosexual identity development model that describes how committed homosexuals recall the process of accepting homosexuality as their identity. This theory covers four stages; sensitization, identity confusion, identity assumption, and commitment. The analysis discovers that Maurice Hall experiences happiness and sorrow in his journey as he encounters two major characters, Clive Durham and Alec Scudder. Maurice Hall fully accepts his homosexuality once he meets Alec Scudder who encourages Maurice to be his lover. This paper concludes that Maurice Hall’s homosexual identity development is mostly influenced by people surrounding him such as Clive Durham who makes Maurice depressed due to a sudden break-up and Alec Scudder who makes Maurice later fully accepts his homosexuality. However, the ending seems happy since Maurice finally finds his romantic partner but it implicitly tells that homosexuality was unacceptable at the time, therefore, Maurice Hall and Alec Scudder find a new place to live together.