Here is my selection of scenes and quotes ranging from chapters 17 to 22. I have realized that Jamie has a sort of foot fetish since a young age.
Jamie and Claire
There is the scene in which Claire is majorly concerned about Jamie not being at home late at night. Because somebody tried to have him killed in a former chapter, Claire is starting to think the worst. When Jamie arrives, he tells Claire that he has been out with Prince Charles together with other Jacobites and bankers. They all ended up in a brothel. Of course, Jamie kept his virtue, but his physical appearance betrays him. He has bites and scratches, and he smells of perfume. He and Claire argue (ch. 17).
. . . And what would ye do if I had lain wi’ a whore, Sassenach? Slap my face? Order me out of your chamber? Keep yourself from my bed?”
I turned and looked at him.
“I’d kill you,” I said through my teeth.
Both eyebrows shot up, and his mouth dropped slightly with incredulity.
“Kill me?” God, if I found you wi’ another man, I’d kill him.” He paused, and one corner of his mouth quirked wryly.
“Mind ye,” he said, “I’d no be verra pleased wi’ you, either, but still, it’s him I’d kill.”
Note that the author opted to italicize “him” in the passage, a hint to the duel between Jamie and Black Jack. The “him” refers to Frank, the other man in Claire’s life.
There is another scene that I am looking forward watching on TV. It is the argument between Jamie and Claire after she has Black Jack arrested to prevent her husband killing him. She did it to protect Frank. This scene in the books has plenty of powerful lines, so I recommend everybody to reread chapter 21. Sincerely, I cannot wait to see Jamie asking Claire to make a choice between Frank and him. Jamie decides to please Claire even though he is not happy about it. He wants to ensure that Claire has a safe place to go if the massacre at Culloden takes place. He needs Frank to live.
“If it does, then I want there to be a place for you. I want someone for you to go to if I am . . . not there to care for you. If it canna be me, then I would have it be a man who love you.” (ch. 22)
While having this conversation with Claire, Jamie is showing some interest for Claire’s feet. This scene is reminiscent of one in The Fiery Cross in which Claire has a night visitor at Jocasta’s wedding, which, of course, is Jamie: He lifted my foot and gently kissed the tip of my big toe (ch. 22).
Murtagh and Mary Hawkins
Mary is in awe when she sees Murtagh’s skill at knife-throwing.
“B-bravo, Mr. Murtagh!” Mary called, smiling. Startled, Murtagh turned, and I could see the flush rising on his lean cheeks in the light from the double doors behind us (ch. 18)
I selected this passage because it shows Mary’s purity and naivety. It also foreshadows what Murtagh will do for her once they are all back in Scotland/England.
Murtagh’s Failure to Protect the Ladies
Murtagh’s feels like he has failed Jamie after the attack against Claire and Mary in Paris. He requests Jamie to take his life. This scene has a significant number of quotes that are worth analyzing. First, there is Jamie’s response to Murtagh’s request.
“There’s nay shame to ha’ fallen in battle, mo caraidh,” he said softly. “The greatest of warriors may be overcome.” (ch. 19)
This passage foreshadows how the brave and fierce Scottish clan warriors will fall to the English at Culloden. Jamie will lose almost everything even before Culloden: his wife, his position as laird, and eventually his freedom. However, his morals and beliefs, his identity as a Scotsman will prevail.
Murtagh used to love Ellen MacKenzie Fraser. This love is comparable to the one that Jamie has for Claire.
“And I swore to her by the name o’ the threefold God, that I would follow ye always, to do your bidding, and guard your back, when ye became a man grown, and needing such service. . .” (ch. 19)
“Aye, lad. I do cherish ye as the son of my own loins. But I have betrayed your service.” (ch. 19)
Jamie subsequently assigns Murtagh to find the attackers and to avenge their deeds. Of interest is what Murtagh tells Claire: “. . . I will lay vengeance at your feet” (ch. 19). He eventually accomplishes this goal by laying the bag containing the head of the Duke of Sandringham at Claire’s feet.
Mary and Claire
Claire goes to see Mary at her uncle’s house after the rape incident. Mary feels ashamed of what happened to her, and she thinks that Alexander Randall would never look at her again. Of interest is Claire’s reply, which foreshadows Mary’s meeting Alex again and for good.
“You’ll see him again,” I whispered. “Of course you will. It won’t make a difference to him. He’s a good man.” (ch. 20)
Sources
Gabaldon, Diana. Dragonfly in Amber. New York: Bantam Dell, 1993. Print.