A Queer Study Of Homosexual Identity In Maurice

E.M.Forster is one of the most esteemed English novelist of his time,and Maurice is his novel of homosexual theme.Maurice illustrates homosexual identity of Clive and Maurice since their adolescence.This these provides a study on both ego identity and social identity of homosexuality in Maurice.Applying Jungian psychoanalysis,queer theory and sociological studies,this thesis finds that Clive and Maurice form ego identity of homosexuality,but they fall into a dilemma when pursuing social identity of homosexuality.Finally,in this novel,homosexual individuals are either assimilated or marginalized in heteronormative society.Homosexuality is trapped in a desperate status.This thesis consists of five chapters.In the first chapter,it provides a brief introduction to the author and Maurice,,together with a literature review.The first chapter also illustrates the purpose,method and significance of this thesis.The following two chapters offer an analysis of sexual identities of Clive and Maurice in the novel.Sexual identity is a sociological notion,and sociological researches encompass both ego identity and social identity into concern in the study of sexual identity.In the second chapter,this thesis finds that both the two protagonists forms homosexuality as ego identity first through their awareness of homosexual desire and then through their consideration of collective unconscious.Clive accepts social definition of homosexuality as an ancient Greek tradition,but Maurice 's formation of homosexuality as ego identity is an active process by digging his personal unconscious.In queer theory,Clive's acceptance is an identity performance during which the subject performs following an existed identity;but Maurice's construction of homosexuality through struggle is perceived as a performative approach through which subject is constructed.Chapter three reviews the three dimensions of social judgments on homosexuality.Homosexuality is sinful,morbid and criminal under religious,medical and legal judgments in a heteronormative society.With these judgments,social identity of homosexuality is impossible.The fourth chapter illustrates the desperate status of the two protagonists.Clive takes a heterosexual disguise and engages a heterosexual marriage in order to pursue political position to save his declining aristocratic family.Clive's assimilation is out of the commands from a heteronormative and patriarchal society,so he must shoulder on his responsibility as the only man in the Durhams.However,Maurice is not willing to give up his personality.Maurice insists in homosexuality.But homosexuality cannot exist in society,so he is marginalized in city and finally expelled to nature.In the society,homosexuality becomes sexual minority whose existence is geographically confined and culturally muted.In nature,homosexuality becomes a natural existence and its love is exalted.While nature will inevitably be intruded by industrialization and urbanization,homosexuality is again haunted by social judgments.In consequence,the last chapter draws a conclusion.Maurice depicts the desperate status for homosexuals like Clive and Maurice,and it calls for a better status for homosexuality.This novel is a shout from the most desperate situation of homosexuality,and it asks for society's acknowledgment of humanity and love.