Outlander Book Club: Book 1, Chapter 26 breakdown

Foreshadowing within the Outlander chapter

This isn’t a chapter that has a lot of foreshadowing. Like the previous chapter, the focus is more on revealing the truth.

Before the witch trial, we learned about Geillis’s secrets. We learned who she was and what she wanted to gain. During this chapter, we learn about Jenny’s story.

Everything Jamie had heard was wrong. The only hint for the future is finding out who told Jamie the wrong story and why. We know that Dougal was the one that told Jamie about the baby, but is it possible that Dougal was misinformed, or did he do it on purpose? I believe on purpose, but we don’t figure that out in this chapter.

There is a hint of foreshadowing at the very start of the chapter. It’s all in the conversation about the Duke of Sandringham. I still believe we get this hint that nothing’s going to work out. Jamie won’t get the chance to tell the full truth, and even if he does, it won’t matter. The Duke isn’t the man he seems, something that Jamie suggests.

One thing I do feel is that there’s a bond forming between Claire and Ian. They’re the outsiders when it comes to the family. They’re not Frasers but married into it. This allows them this unspoken bond.

At the same time, Claire has a way to bond further with Ian. She knows that his leg will bother him and has ways that may help. She’s not giving up her healing ways despite the witch trials.