Why Willoughby’s speech was beautifully sad and poignant on Outlander

Did you think Willoughby’s speech about women was sexist and awful? There was actually a beautifully sad and poignant meaning within it that many missed.

The 18^th century was a sexist time. Women were owned by their fathers and husbands. They couldn’t vote, own property (unless they inherited it, and then it was sometimes questionable) or make decisions for themselves. Men focused on the way women looked, so it’s not that surprising that Willoughby’s speech about women was sexist and at times eyebrow-raising.

He focused on the beauty of women. His love for women is sexual in nature, but that is linked to the culture and time he came from. When you look past that part of the message, you get a beautifully sad message that links entirely to Claire’s experiences travelling through time. Here is why Willoughby’s speech was actually quite beautiful, sad, poignant, and sweet.

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It told of his experiences

Willoughby isn’t a local man at all. That’s clear from his look and mannerisms, but that doesn’t mean he should be treated like a second class citizen. Of course, the 18^th century wasn’t just sexist. It feared those who were different and that included those from different places. The Chinese were considered scum at times, which is something Willoughby learned when he arrived in Scotland.

The story was a sad tale of his experiences of different cultures. He was disappointed that while he loved women, they couldn’t love him back. Women in his own country were like lotus flowers, while the Scottish women were brash and harsh. They were complete opposites, and that fact made him miss a land he could never return to.

Nobody would want that. When people go on journeys, they certainly miss their home but there is usually the opportunity to return. Willoughby’s story is very similar to that of Jamie’s at the end of Season 1. He goes to Paris, fearing he can never return to his home in Scotland, and struggles a little with the differences in cultures.

 His life was a little like Claire’s

While the two certainly have different overall storylines, Willoughby and Claire’s lives share some similarities. This makes Willoughby’s story somewhat poignant.

They are both from worlds apart to the one they are in now. For Claire it’s a different time and for Willoughby it’s a different country. They both experience new superstitions, opinions, attitudes, and behaviors. It’s a culture shock, as they both try to fit into their new expectations and boundaries. This isn’t always easy.

For Willoughby, he struggles with his fetishes and opinion of women that aren’t welcome in 18^th century Scotland unlike China. For Claire, she struggles with 20^th century opinions of superstitions and medical knowledge that aren’t accepted in the 18^th century at all. They have to learn to fit into molds expected of them and that isn’t always easy and doesn’t make them happy.

Next: 5 best lines from Outlander Season 3, Episode 9

Do you agree with this look at Willoughby’s story? What did you take from it? Share in the comments below.

Outlander Season 3 continues on Sundays at 8/7c on Starz and is available from midnight on the Starz App.