#TBT: Why did Claire keep her wedding ring from Frank in Outlander?

Photo credit: Outlander/Starz Image acquired via Starz Media Room

After Frank’s death in 1968, Claire continued to wear her wedding ring from him, leading to plenty of debate.

If Claire and Frank’s marriage was really as loveless as Outlander Season 3 made it look, why would Claire have kept the wedding ring Frank gave her? The truth is the marriage wasn’t loveless, but it was a difficult one. They clearly started to resent each other and the situation they were in. In the end, Claire made it clear to what she hoped would be Frank’s spirit that she did love him. That love was never as deep as her love for Jamie, but she loved him.

This will explain a little as to why she never took her wedding ring off. Frank was never a man she hated. She was once the love of her life and she thought he would be forever. Part of her missed Frank and wanted to be connected to the man who stood by her with a child from another man. When she returned from the past, Frank could have refused to believe her tale and walked away. He could have left Claire to the hounds that were the reporters. Instead, he took her back.

More from Opinion

Frank even gave her an out when they arrived in Boston. Realizing that Claire wasn’t completely happy, he gave her a chance to walk away. There would be no hard feelings or regrets. Instead, Claire chose to remain with Frank. Some of that may have been for selfish reasons, but she also wanted to make sure her child had someone who cared for her in the way Frank would. There was still part of her that wanted to be with him, even if she wasn’t going to admit that because of her grief for Jamie.

Watch Outlander with a FREE 7-day trial of Amazon Channels!

Just because Frank died didn’t mean Claire would forget about him. She even initially planned to stay in the present day. It was only after learning Jamie had survived Culloden that she started thinking about going back to the past. Claire cared for this man who had been a solid part of her life from her teenage years.

That ring was the connection to Frank and the love they once shared together. It was the link to the feelings she would always have of him, and most were certainly positive. This was a man who loved and waited for Claire to return; a man who was an excellent father to Brianna; a man who supported his family despite everything that had happened. Maybe that’s not enough for most people to wear their wedding ring, but it was enough for Claire.

Claire keeping her ring wasn’t just something the show added. It was included in the books. This wasn’t a case of the show changing something major without considering the consequences.

Next: Will Brianna and Jamie ever meet on Outlander

Why do you think Claire kept her ring from Frank? Should she have eventually removed it after Frank’s death? Keep the conversation in the comments below.

Like Claire and Jamie on Facebook for more throwbacks to the past of Outlander.