Outlander Book Club: Book 1, Chapter 31 breakdown

Foreshadowing within the Outlander chapter

There is a look at one point during Outlander Book 1, Chapter 31 that foreshadows a relationship, even if it’s one-sided. When Murtagh sees the bracelets that Claire is wearing, it’s clear that there’s more to them.

Jenny shares that Ellen never said who they were from. However, it’s clear that Claire wearing them doesn’t sit perfectly with Murtagh. Those bracelets were more than just a gift. They were a token of his love and affection for Ellen. They also mark as a reminder of an oath Murtagh made because of his love, in my mind.

Connecting to the bracelets is the string of pearls. They’re not mentioned in this chapter, but with the bracelets, I’m reminded of the pearls being a gift from an admirer. Someone else Ellen would never talk about. She valued privacy and protected the identities of the people who loved her, not willing to risk the wrath and jealously but also as a way to avoid a man’s humiliation.

The pearls will come up in a later point just like the bracelets. I get the sense this chapter is getting us ready for this.

While not foreshadowing, there is a storyline that sets up a future one. The beating MacNab receives is the one thing that makes Jamie’s time at Lallybroch far more dangerous. MacNab isn’t happy that he’s had his son taken for him, deciding that how he deals with his son is up to him. It shouldn’t be surprising that MacNab is involved with a certain Watch storyline in the books.