Outlander Book Club: Voyager Chapter 32 breakdown
Just the Outlander chapter
We pick up the story on the road. Claire, Jamie, and Young Ian are heading back to Lallybroch, where Claire thinks about Jenny and how she was like a sister to Claire. It’s going to be hard for Jenny, but Claire hopes that Jenny can see past the lies and deception and welcome Claire back.
Along the way, Young Ian and Jamie talk about a cave where Bonnie Prince Charlie temporarily hid. It turns out that Jamie doesn’t mention Charles to his nieces and nephews. One thing that is clear is that neither Claire nor Jamie have any respect or care for the man.
As they get back to Lallybroch, they’re greeted by some dogs. It’s not the same dogs that greeted Claire and Jamie back in the first book. This time, one of them is Young Ian’s dog. Does he deserve a dog when he doesn’t even take it with him when leaving Lallybroch? That’s something his sister Janet brings up, while also telling Young Ian that he needs to wash before seeing Jenny and Ian.
Janet is shocked to see Claire. She likely heard of Claire arriving, which is why she is there in the first place while everyone else has made themselves scarce, but Janet still can’t bring herself to say anything and only just remembers to curtsey.
Now it’s back at Lallybroch, where Claire and Jenny see each other for the first time in 20 years. It’s an uncomfortable reunion for everyone, and Claire notes that Jenny and Ian haven’t welcomed Jamie back home. They’ve welcomed Claire, but to me, it does seem mostly for show than anything else. There is a lot that needs to be said, and so far, Claire has offered no apology for just disappearing.
The focus is on Young Ian, though. Ian takes charge in disciplining him, speaking for Jenny. Despite Jenny being a strong woman, she allows Ian this right as a father. Remember the time period. The man would have been the one to mostly do the disciplining.
Jamie doesn’t want Ian to beat Young Ian. What else is there to do? Instead, Ian sends Jamie out to do the beating for him.
It’s hard on Jamie, but he does it. Young Ian takes the punishment but also accepts Jamie’s apologies for allowing Young Ian to come to him in Edinburgh and get into the mess that he got in. Jamie should have listened to Ian and Jenny when they said no.
After Jamie has finished beating Young Ian, he hands the leather strap to the boy. It’s now time for Jamie’s beating. After all, Jamie has just admitted to being at fault. Young Ian doesn’t want to do it, but he steps up. There is hope that this will help keep Young Ian at home and it will repair the damage between Jamie and Jenny/Ian.
This is a great ending to show that you’re never too old for a beating. You have to accept responsibility. Jamie has always taken his beatings, especially when he knows he deserves them. This isn’t also an important lesson for Young Ian. Maybe Young Ian will think twice about running away after doing this.