From the very beginning Maurice's superior tone is evident-- he has been "praised for his technical ability," he "can be trusted," and he writes "against the bias" all on the first page of his novel. And although this is his version describing the end of the affair Maurice, as a "professional writer" "praised for his technical ability," should know better that to use a total of 33 examples of the first person narrative within the first two pages of his chronicle if he wants to be seen as unbiased-- and he does. Maurice himself say's, about his style of writing this piece, "I, I, I, as though this were my story, and not the story of Sarah, Henry, and of course, that third, whom I hated without yet knowing him, or even believing in him (35)."

As I read this book for the third time more and more quirks about Maurice's character jumped out at me. I tried to make comparisons with my own life, my jo

During an affair most men would take care to not be found out and feel at least moderately guilty but not Maurice. Maurice has a God-like invincibility about him evidenced when he has sex in Sarah's house while her husband is home. And when Henry has a suspicion that Sarah may be cheating on him Maurice steps in to offer his aid in hiring a private detective to find out whom she is cheating with.

Although Maurice never comes out and says he is God or even God-like he readily argues the existence of God and in doing so helps to reinforce the belief in the reality of a God, here is one such example:

"I have never understood why people who can swallow the enormous improbability of a personal God boggle at a personal Devil. I have known so intimately the way that demon works in my imagination."

To know one side is actually there implies that there has to be another side thus; if there if a Devil, there is a God. And to finally confirm his belief and promote his superiority Maurice ends his tale by speaking directly to God saying, "O God, You've done enough, You've robbed me of enough, I'm to old and tired to learn to love, leave me alone for ever (192)."

Even Sarah has a tendency to link Maurice to God. During one of the many times Sarah questions her journey for faith she says "sometimes I've hated Maurice, but would I have hated him if I hadn't loved him too? Oh God, if I could really hate y

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Approximate Word count = 951
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)