Foreshadowing in the Outlander chapter
This chapter was mostly about wrapping up the Paris storyline. With so few chapters left in the book, it had to happen eventually. However, there is an element of foreshadowing when it comes to the name Beauchamp.
The Duke of Sandringham specifically asks her if she has ties to France. Of course, Claire says she doesn’t. She doesn’t think she does, but she doesn’t know her full lineage. That isn’t something she’s interested in.
However, I do think it’s a connection to future storylines. We know that Fergus is the son of a woman with the surname Beauchamp. This could be the connection to Claire we’ve all been waiting for.
Adapting the Dragonfly in Amber chapter
This chapter was certainly used for Outlander Season 2, but it was heavily adapted. Hugh did pop up, but only to send a message to Jamie. Claire needed to make sure Jamie didn’t go to the wrong place.
Hugh didn’t die in the series. It may be linked to a lack of time. The chapter itself takes about an hour on Audible. Trying to fit everything in and do it all justice was never going to be easy. Plus, Hugh’s death served little to the overall story.
The focus on the man who attacked Claire and how it was set up by the Duke of Sandringham were the most important parts of the chapter. We needed to see that the Duke had seen through Claire, that he was never really going to help Claire and Jamie. Little threads that had been teased from the very beginning of Outlander Season 1 fell into place within this chapter and so were necessary for the adaptation.
I do prefer the way the show handled it, especially seeing Murtagh get his revenge. The idea that the attack on Mary and Claire was his fault had played on his mind the whole time. He felt like he had failed and he made an oath to get vengeance. We needed to see him get that on the show rather than just learn about it at the very end.
What did you spot while reading Outlander Book 2, Chapter 44? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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