Brianna thinks about ways to make hot water in Outlander Book 6, Chapter 18
We start with Brianna writing in her dream journal in Outlander Book 6, Chapter 18. It leads to thoughts about hot water.
Brianna is an engineer. That’s something we’ve seen develop over the course of the book so far, and it continues with this chapter. She wants to find a way to create hot water. It’s possible in theory even without electricity, but she needs to work out how to do it.
We also get to see another item from the modern world pop in. Roger creates a car for Jemmy, but realizes that he doesn’t quite know what to call it.
This chapter certainly includes some foreshadowing with it. It’s something that I’ll break down when in that part of this post.
As for the adaptation section, the chapter hasn’t been used in the series just yet. I do hope it is, though. I’ll share my thoughts on why this is so important when it comes to that section of the post. It’s going to be important for Brianna more than Roger.
Let’s dive into A Breath of Snow and Ashes Chapter 18.
Just the Outlander chapter
The chapter starts with Brianna making a dream journal entry. She was dreaming of her time in her own time period, events of things that happened. That leads to her thinking about hot water. It is something that could be possible in theory, but she needs to figure out how.
She’d need a power source and something to hold onto the water. The power source is pretty easy, but holding the water means getting her hands on some metal. That is a precious substance in this time period. Jamie got his hands on metal thanks to some gambling.
When she goes back to her thoughts about making hot water later in the chapter, she thinks about taking the laundry pot. Mrs. Bug would throw a fit about that. And they all need to do laundry! That wouldn’t be practical.
I just love how we see Brianna’s engineering brain work. She even thinks about how inventions may have been created by other time travelers based on items they remember from their own time. Is that the case, really? Just how many time travelers are there?
We also see Roger making an item from his own time. He makes a wooden car for Jemmy to play with, and uses the “Vroom!” sound for it. Jemmy wants to know what it’s called, and there’s a twinge of sadness in this chapter. Brianna calls it a “Vroom.” What else can they call it right now when automobiles aren’t even considered a thing just yet. Even the steam engine hasn’t been invented yet.
Foreshadowing in the Outlander chapter
This chapter has a few elements of foreshadowing within it. The first is in Brianna’s growth as a character and her ability to use her engineering skills. She will bring more of the 20th century to the world of Fraser’s Ridge.
We even get a moment of Roger mentioning a burn spot on the table. She’s still looking to make matches, and now she wants to make hot water too. She wants the comforts of her time without actually going back.
However, this is where the next element of foreshadowing is. Jemmy is going to get to experience cars. He will experience modern technology and inventions. The family will head back to their own time eventually.
Adapting A Breath of Snow and Ashes chapter
We haven’t seen the chapter used just yet. I do hope we see some of it, though. I don’t mind skipping over making the car. This will depend on if Mandy’s storyline is written in and leads to the MacKenzies heading to the 20th century. I’m curious at what the writers have in store for that storyline.
The bit that I want to see is Brianna and her thoughts on hot water. I want to see her make more. I need to see that engineering side of her.
As women, we’re often pushed into the roles of mother and wife. That’s especially the case for the time period Brianna is in. However, there is more to Brianna than that. I’m not saying being a mother isn’t important to her, but I want to see her have something for herself too. We got a glimpse of it with the snake and the syringe in Outlander Season 5, and now I need to see more of it in Season 6.
What did you spot while reading A Breath of Snow and Ashes Chapter 18? Let us know in the comments below.
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