Outlander Book Club: Voyager Chapter 16 breakdown
Just the Outlander chapter
We start with Jamie watching as Willie grows up. Lord John Grey has stuck to his word, arriving every quarter. The two have struck up their half-friendship again, and it’s clearly something Jamie needs right now.
While Jamie was initially angry at Lord John Grey and thought John had ulterior motives to send him to Helwater, that wasn’t the case. Jamie realizes that John’s stepfather was influential in getting Jamie to serve out his time at Helwater. And it’s John’s stepfather who will help him get back home to Scotland—not that he’s thinking of that just yet.
The thing that changes it for Jamie is him overhearing Lady Dunsany talk to a friend. They laugh at how Willie is starting to look like Jamie, and Jamie realizes that it’s true. The good thing about Willie getting Geneva’s hair coloring is that there aren’t too many suspicions, but the servants know Willie’s parentage.
Jamie realizes that it is time to leave Helwater. Naturally, Willie doesn’t want that to happen. He’s a spoiled boy, but we also have to remember his age. He’s learning how to control his emotions, and that’s what discipline is about. I don’t view him as a brat but a product of his upbringing, but that’s not for debate here.
We get to see Jamie tell Willie no. While he can’t discipline Willie in the way he’d like, it’s enough to get Willie to say goodbye. They have a moment where Willie sees the candle Jamie lights while he remembers the people from his past, including Claire. Willie learns that Jamie is a “stinking papist” and he wants to become one too.
Jamie baptizes Willie, giving him the name William James, which brings up Willie’s middle names. They are typically English, but Jamie says that “William James” is his papist name, but we all know that it’s because Jamie wants that connection to his son.
In the end, Jamie gives Willie a
carved wood snake
wooden rosery to remember him (oops, watched the episode and read the chapter way too close together). What can Willie give Jamie? There’s no need to worry about that. Jamie can’t forget Willie.