Outlander Book Club: Voyager Chapter 58 breakdown

Foreshadowing in the Outlander chapter

There is a small amount of foreshadowing in this chapter—and I mean proper foreshadowing and not storylines that push the plot forward.

Claire mentions how Marsali looks glowing in her dress, but that it’s more than just the dress. She even asks Marsali if she’s been using the tansy oil. Clearly, Claire suspects that Marsali is pregnant.

We know in later chapters that is the case. In fact, Marsali remains in Jamaica when Claire and Jamie take Young Ian back to Scotland because of her pregnancy.

I also think there’s a little foreshadowing again of who Mrs. Abernathy is. Geillis Duncan would keep to herself a lot. We know Mrs. Abernathy is a private person. People don’t really go to see her unless they have to. Mrs. Abernathy is also surrounded by rumors, just like Geillis Duncan was.

Adapting the Voyager chapter

Of course, Voyager Chapter 58 had to be used in the TV show, but it was done very differently. By not having Lord John Grey on the Porpoise, Jamie had no idea who the new Governor of Jamaica was. And I think that worked so well for the series. Lord John wasn’t the only one surprised to see Jamie, but Jamie was also surprised to see John there.

We got rid of the questions about what happened between John and Jamie at Ardsmuir. Claire immediately understands John’s feelings for Jamie, but she never once questions what Jamie did. She trusts him, and she does know him. There are no secrets between them about Willie, which I have always preferred. There’s just something about Jamie not telling Claire about Willie in the books that never sat right with me, so I’m glad the show changes that and gets rid of, really, a pointless plot point.

The ball also saw Geillis there. Claire saw her while talking to Lord John Grey. In the series, the Frasers had no idea they were looking for Mrs. Abernathy. It was only when Temeraire got word from the other slaves (another storyline that was changed to work for less time to adapt) that Claire was able to put all the pieces of the puzzle together.

And then there was the lack of murder. This storyline is great to drag the book out a little longer. However, the TV show definitely didn’t need it. To be honest, I do question whether the book really needed it. The overall storyline would have worked well without this little plot point.

The TV show remains focused and condensed. It has no choice but to, and sometimes, I think it’s stronger because of that.

What did you spot while reading Voyager Chapter 58? Let us know in the comments below.

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