Outlander Book Club: The Fiery Cross Chapter 43 breakdown

Philip Wylie makes a pass at Claire in Outlander Book 5, Chapter 43

Claire and Philip Wylie head into the stables in Outlander Book 5, Chapter 43. Naturally, it’s all innocent to Claire, but Wylie has other intentions.

This is one of those chapters that reminds us of the time. Women couldn’t go off to secluded areas with men without becoming talk. Just the slightest thing could be taken as flirtation, even if there was absolutely no intention in it.

Well, even nowadays, things can be taken as flirtation without meaning it. However, we are starting to move past things a little. There’s still a victim-blaming culture around, but it’s not as bad as it once was.

The reminder doesn’t come just from Wylie, but also from Jamie’s reaction. After all, he is a man of the time, and that’s something we need to be reminded of now and again.

The chapter was partly used in the TV series. I’ll get to my thoughts on the adaptation in that section of the breakdown. I’m not as critical about it as some fans out there, which I don’t think will surprise many if you know how I treat the TV series compared to the books.

Let’s dive into The Fiery Cross Chapter 43.