In Dragonfly in Amber, there is a scene in which Claire is dreaming of Frank giving a lecture (ch. 10). His topic is about the objects of vertu and the objects of use. This scene is a reference to the dragonfly in amber. According to the author, the dragonfly in amber is “a means of preserving something of great beauty that exists out of its proper time” (The Outlandish Companion, 368). The objects of vertu are the “pretty things”, the “decorations of a society”, all objects that are “Worth preserving.” In fact, amber is used as a decorative object often in real life, especially in jewelry. An insect in amber is preserved.
Of interest is the comment that Frank makes about the miniature (or mirror) depicting Claire, an object of vertu.
“Undated. Unknown. But once . . . once, she was real.”
Frank’s comment reflects how their love deteriorated through time. It did not get preserved. It is contrasting to the love between Jamie and Claire. They both have vivid dreams in which they see or feel each other, especially after being separated for 20 years and living at different periods of time. There are some references to Jamie dreaming of Claire in Voyager. In regards to Claire, the prologue of book 2 is a good instance in which Claire dreams of Jamie. I wrote about these dreams in a former post: The Prologue in Dragonfly in Amber. These dreams are “fleeting,” a characteristic of the dragonfly.
The vividness of the dream makes Claire cry. She mourns Frank. He does not recognise her, and this lack of acknowledgement hurts her.
“. . . But the people they painted? We see them, and yet we know nothing of them. The strange hairstyles, the odd clothes – they don’t seem people that you’d know, do they? . .
At this stage, Claire still cares about Frank. It is one of the reasons why she becomes upset in regards to Jamie ignoring her wish of not killing Black Jack for a few months until his son is conceived.
After waking Claire up from this dream, Jamie is jealous. However, he consoles himself by applying the following thought.
“That should the need come, you might mourn for me that way,” he said softly.
The truth is that Claire will mourn Jamie for twenty years. There is a reference in book 5 in which she muses that she was dead inside for those twenty years in which they were separated from each other.
Finally, here is one of the most compelling quotes of the series.
“. . . You carry me within ye, Claire, and ye canna leave me now, no matter what happens. You are mine, always, if ye will or no, if ye want me or nay. Mine, and I wilna let ye go.”
No wonder Jamie visits Claire in the future as demonstrated in the first book regardless of him being just a ghost or an astral body projection while he is dreaming.
Note: My copy of The Outlandish Companion is the original copy. I guess I should order the new publication.
Sources
Gabaldon, Diana. Dragonfly in Amber. New York: Bantam Dell, 1993. Print.
– – -. The Outlandish Companion. New York: Delacorte Press, 1999.