Jamie and Claire discuss what being an Indian Agent means in Outlander Book 6, Chapter 7
We get back to Claire and Jamie in Outlander Book 6, Chapter 7. It’s time to find out what he’s doing about becoming an Indian Agent, and what that actually means.
The chapter is on the short side. It starts off with a focus on what being an Indian Agent means for Jamie. Claire notes that it sounds like something from a television show, which brings up thoughts of her own time.
This conversation slowly moves onto what’s still to come. Jamie is still trying to walk between the fires. He needs to figure out the right time to make the switch to protect his land and his family. Of course, it means he thinks about what could happen in the future to him and what Claire will need to do.
There is some foreshadowing in this chapter. There’s no way we can talk about the war to come without foreshadowing.
However, the chapter hasn’t been used yet on the series. It could be used in Outlander Season 6, and I’ll get to my thoughts on whether that is likely to happen. Spoiler: it would make sense to keep it in, even just as a small mention.
Let’s dive into A Breath of Snow and Ashes Chapter 7.
Just the Outlander chapter
The chapter starts with Claire talking about how the term “Indian Agent” sounds like Jamie is someone from an old Wild West program. It’s a good thing in the sense that the hero of the shows never dies, but Jamie brings up one question: will it mean he has to sing?
I love that Jamie takes in what Claire’s life was like in the future. While he can’t imagine exactly what she is describing, he tries. He really does take on board everything that she says, and I do think that’s important in their relationship. They have a bond that can’t be broken.
After this, the talk moves onto the upcoming war. Jamie will be involved in trade with the Native Americans. This is important for the upcoming war. He explains that trading with the local tribes is a way to help keep the tribes on the Crown’s side should things happen. He will be viewed as a loyalist.
The Frasers need to be viewed as loyalists right now. Eventually, they will need to switch sides because they know the way that the war is going to go.
However, Jamie does have a question. He knows now what is going to happen to the tribes when the Patriots win the war. Brianna has explained a lot of it, and he trusts that it will happen. What could be if the Crown wins? Is it possible that the Native Americans would have fared better?
Nobody can really answer that, though. And is it really possible to change history?
At the end of the chapter, Jamie wants to know one more thing. If something happens to him, will Claire do what the Dutch woman did to her family? Jamie theorizes that the man was killed and the woman poisoned her family intentionally to kill them because they couldn’t live without the man of the house. Claire isn’t 100% that happened, but she understands why Jamie believes that.
Jamie makes it clear that Claire shouldn’t do that. She also shouldn’t kill herself because something happens to Jamie. The children will need her, and he will wait for her in the afterlife.
Foreshadowing in the Outlander chapter
There is a little bit of foreshadowing in this chapter. The first part is everything to come with the Revolutionary War. That is coming up, and Jamie and Claire will need to make a choice. They will eventually need to change sides to be on the right side of history.
The other bit of foreshadowing is in Jamie’s conversation about what Claire will do if something happens to him. We know that when Claire thinks Jamie is dead, she doesn’t consider ending her life or the lives of people around her. However, she does take steps to protect herself. We’ve got that storyline with Lord John Grey still to come.
Adapting A Breath of Snow and Ashes chapter
The chapter hasn’t been used in Outlander Season 5. That’s not too surprising. There hasn’t been a lot of focus on the Revolutionary War just yet. It was only at the end of the season that we got the reminder of what’s to come.
The storm is going to start in Outlander Season 6. This could lead to some of the conversations within this chapter to happen. I’m mostly thinking about the Indian Agent part of the story. This bit would make sense to stay in the story as it is going to connect to the Revolutionary War. Even just a small mention in where the Frasers are now in the story would be enough for me.
What did you spot while reading A Breath of Snow and Ashes Chapter 7? Let us know in the comments below.
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