Outlander: Interesting Quotes from Drums

. . . “Maybe so, but what of the other things? I canna say I wish to be meeting a bear or a pack o’ savages, wi’ only this to hand.” He touched the large sheathed knife that hung from his belt (Drums of Autumn, ch. 1).

This topic of conversation reveals the fact that they are poorly armed to travel north. No wonder they could not protect themselves against Bonnet.

While trying to look for a suitable location to bury Gavin Hayes, the topic about doctors and medical students obtaining fresh dead bodies from the graveyard for dissection in the eighteenth century is brought up. Young Ian mentions that also criminals who die in prison are also taken to be dissected by doctors and students. Young Ian relates:

“Da told me about one time he was arrested, when they took him to Edinburgh, and kept him in the Tolbooth. He was in a cell wi’ three other men, and one of them a fellow with the consumption, who coughed something dreadful, keeping the rest awake all night and all day. .. ” (Drums of Autumn, ch. 1)

This passage is significant because, in book 7, Ian Murray eventually dies of consumption, which he acquired at the Tolbooth.

Throughout the Outlander Series and the Lord John Series, there are some references to Dr. John Hunter, the Body-Snatcher. Lord John seems to be scared of him. In The Scottish Prisoner, Lord John mentions him to Tobias Quinn, who knows very well the reputation of Dr. Hunter.

. . . “Think of it! to be taken off and anatomized like a criminal, skinned like an animal and your flesh cut into bloody bits . . . God and all angels preserve me from such a fate!” (The Scottish Prisoner, ch. 18).

Jamie calms Tobias by joking and telling him that he will ensure a decent burial for him. Eventually, Tobias commits suicide and cannot be buried in consecrated ground. Jamie takes care of Quinn by burying him and ensuring that nobody knows where the body is. 

I guess every Outlander fan is familiar with the quote associated with the law of thermodynamics:

“And when my body shall cease, my soul will still be yours. Claire – I swear by my hope of heaven, I will not be parted from you” (ch. 16).

Claire is concerned about Jamie going back to Scotland to find tenants for Fraser’s Ridge. She is scared of losing Jamie since she has seen his grave in Scotland (even though, the grave is lacking dates). Jamie’s reply to Claire demonstrates that nothing will change between them even after death. As Jamie mentions to Claire, “I was dead, my Sassenach – and yet all the time, I loved you” (ch. 16).

Thanks for reading! I am back to blogging after having a busy winter.

Sources

Gabaldon, Diana. Drums of Autumn. New York: Dell Publishing. 1997. Print.

Gabaldon, Diana. The Scottish Prisoner. New York: Bantam Books. 2012. Print.