Outlander Book Club: Book 1, Chapter 39 breakdown

Foreshadowing within the Outlander chapter

During this chapter, there is a mention of Frank Randall once more. As Claire is bringing up memories of Black Jack Randall, Claire can’t help but think of Frank. She doesn’t want to, but there’s no way of avoiding it.

With the opium in the room, she starts to succumb to some of the effects. Thoughts of Randall and Frank join together, and I do think it foreshadows the way that they will never be completely separate in the future. It can’t be easy for Claire when she goes back to her own time to be around Frank after everything that Randall has done.

There is the foreshadowing of Claire going back. Jamie doesn’t want her to remain in the past without him. It’s not safe, and there’s a man on the other side of the stones. As much as she wants to forget about Frank to be faithful to Jamie, I think this foreshadows that it can’t happen for as long as Frank is alive in the future.

There’s also the foreshadowing of Claire and Jamie’s bond. They will always be connected to each other. Throughout the chapter, Claire feels weak without Jamie. She needs him to life or part of her will die. It foreshadows the dark thoughts and feelings when she’s in her own time, believing Jamie to be dead. At least in this time, she can do something to keep him safe.

The two will always be connected. It’s like their life forces are important for each other. And I do feel like this chapter foreshadows some of that.