Maurice is a comfortable, middle-class young man growing up in suburban London. He represents the conventional turn-of-the-century Englishman, expected to follow his father into the financial sector. Beneath his outwardly unremarkable exterior, he privately experiences confusing dreams and an emerging awareness of his attraction to other men.

Clive is an upper-class Cambridge student and the heir to the Penge estate. Cerebral and introspective, he attempts to reconcile his orthodox religious upbringing with his early awareness of his sexual orientation. He looks to ancient Greek literature to understand his desires, developing a highly idealized and strictly platonic philosophy regarding romance.

Alec is a young, working-class gamekeeper employed at Clive Durham's country estate. Coming from a family of respectable tradesmen, he works outdoors and possesses a charming, sometimes reckless demeanor. He is highly aware of the strict class boundaries that define English society and makes plans to emigrate to Argentina for better economic opportunities.

Maurice's widowed mother lives comfortably in the London suburbs. She expects her son to naturally step into the role of the male head of the household. Her views on gender roles and class align with the conservative bourgeois morality of her era.

A retired medical doctor and long-time neighbor to the Hall family. Having been a "lady killer" in his youth, he dispenses worldly, paternal advice to Maurice. Beneath his genial exterior, he embodies the rigid prejudices and hypocrisies of English society regarding sexuality.

An orthodox teacher at Maurice's preparatory school. Tasked with giving the fatherless Maurice a talk about growing up, he handles the subject with forced matter-of-factness, drawing diagrams in the sand before panicking that a passerby might see them.

A hypnotist practicing in London, known for treating patients hoping to alter their psychological conditions. Speaking with a slight American accent, he operates with a professional, pragmatic demeanor and offers honest assessments of his treatment methods.

A devout Christian rector installed in the village near the Penge estate. Unlike many characters whose religion is merely conventional, he possesses strong theological opinions and actively concerns himself with the spiritual wellbeing of the local working class.

Maurice's younger sister, described as perky, level-headed, and outspoken. She frequently challenges Maurice's assumed authority in the household, pushing against the restrictive gender norms of her environment.

Maurice's sister, who is conventionally pretty, polite, and demure. She represents the ideal suburban Englishwoman of her era, remaining pliable to her family's wishes and fitting seamlessly into the domestic sphere.

Maurice's grandfather, a retired businessman who has developed eccentric intellectual and spiritual interests in his old age. He holds unconventional cosmological beliefs, including the idea that God resides in the sun.

A young woman from an aristocratic but increasingly impoverished background. She possesses the cultural and intellectual refinement typical of her class, though her elaborate education has left her highly sheltered regarding physical realities.

Clive's widowed mother and the strong-willed matriarch of the Penge estate. Deeply concerned with tradition and her own position in the household, she maneuvers to ensure her son secures the estate's future through an appropriate marriage.

A tall, dark, and affected student at Trinity College, Cambridge. He is highly conversational, using playful yet serious language that challenges conventional masculine norms, intriguing Maurice with his unapologetic individuality.

The dean of Maurice's college at Cambridge. He is an authoritative figure who strictly enforces the rules of the institution and censors classical texts during translation classes to avoid discussing taboo subjects.

A conventional and unreflective friend of Maurice's from their time at Sunnington public school. He continues alongside Maurice to Cambridge, where his rigid views often clash with more eccentric personalities.

A young garden boy previously employed by the Hall family. Though he leaves early in Maurice's adolescence to better himself, his memory profoundly impacts Maurice, appearing as a central figure in his confusing dreams.

Dr. Barry's son, a handsome young man who stays as a guest with the Halls. His physical presence serves as a catalyst for Maurice, forcing him to confront the reality of his desires rather than just romanticizing them.