Claire and Jamie visit a brothel in Outlander Book 6, Chapter 56
Claire needs to treat the ladies at the brother in Outlander Book 6, Chapter 56. Of course, she needs Jamie to go with her to help with this tricky situation.
The chapter doesn’t start at the brothel, though. Claire actually starts with Dr. Fentiman, where they discuss a procedure Fentiman recently performed. I do love seeing Claire interact with other doctors of the time, and it does seem like she’s building some sort of positive reputation with some of them.
However, the chapter moves on to some of the tensions in Cross Creek. It’s clear that there are some problems arising for the loyalists, with some getting out of dodge now. There will be more of that to come, and this is certainly where most of the foreshadowing is. I’ll get to all that in the foreshadowing section.
It’s at the end that Claire is able to treat the ladies at one of the local brothels. She knows Manfred McGillivary has visited and she needs to make sure the women are looked after. However, Jamie has to work hard to get the madam to agree to it.
I’m sure some of this chapter is going to be used in Outlander Season 6. I’ll get to my thoughts on the parts in the adaptation section. There are some parts I’m sure will be skipped over.
Let’s dive into A Breath of Snow and Ashes Chapter 56.
Just the Outlander chapter
The chapter starts with Claire heading to Cross Creek, where she is running some errands. While there, she runs into Dr. Fentiman. He shares some details about a surgery. A man had been shot in the groin and the ball went through one of his testicles. Fentiman removed the testicle and the patient wanted to go home with it.
There is a mention of a beautiful horse. Claire manages to work out that the horse is one that Jamie won from Philip Wylie but it was stolen by Bonnet. Now Wylie seems to be reunited with his horse again, and Claire notes that Jamie will likely be somewhat happy to hear that even if the horse isn’t in Jamie’s possession.
This part of the chapter is more important because of the metal syringes that Claire sees. She’s been trying to have glass ones made, but the metal will be okay for her needs. At least metal won’t break. She can’t find out where Fentiman got them made, but it turns out he uses them to treat some sexually transmitted diseases in men.
Claire is able to get one of the syringes and leaves Fentiman. That’s when she heads through some of the other stores, realizing that Mr. Bogues’s apothecary shop is closing down. He and his family are moving back to England, and Claire notes that they’re loyalists. This is a good time to move and Bogues will have received a good price for his shop right now.
Claire thinks about what’s to come for the loyalists. If they don’t sell now, they’ll end up losing all their property through confiscation.
Her thoughts are cut off when Jezebel Morton turns up. She wants to know where Isaiah is. Claire does know but doesn’t tell the woman, but she knows that Jezebel is Isaiah’s first wife. This wife is angry about the situation, and she will get her revenge.
There is a riot happening in town, though. The Patriots are starting to rise up and they’re using tar and feathers still against some of the loyalists. Jamie is in the crowd to help protect some of the loyalists. There are some jokes that help to soothe some of the tensions enough for Jamie to get away eventually.
This is when Claire is able to get Jamie to take her to the brothel. She wants to be able to treat the girls there with penicillin. It’s not all that easy, though. Mrs. Sylvie doesn’t really want to even when she learns that Manfred has visited. Jamie suggests a card game and if he wins, she allows Claire to treat the girls. He does win, making sure that some of the girls can be somewhat safe.
At the end of the chapter, they see the printer’s shop up in flames. Jamie notes that Fergus will need to look at another occupation, and it’s clear that Jamie is trying to help Fergus figure out what he can do in the colonies. One thing is clear to both Claire and Jamie: the war is starting.
Foreshadowing in the Outlander chapter
There is some foreshadowing in this chapter. When it comes to Fergus, it’s all about what he’ll do to find happiness. Jamie knows that he’ll be good at printing, but the printing shop has gone up in flames. Fergus will find a printing shop, but it will take him away from Fraser’s Ridge—much further than Cross Creek. It will be worth it, though.
Another bit of foreshadowing is why Jamie needs to switch sides. Loyalists will have their land confiscated, and Jamie can’t see that happen. He needs to do what he must for his family and tenants.
However, not everyone close to him is going to follow suit. Jocasta isn’t going to switch sides. That means she and Duncan need to get out of dodge. However, there are other reasons for that. Claire mentions selling the apothecary for a good price. Things at River Run will need to be sold as money becomes an issue.
Adapting A Breath of Snow and Ashes chapter
I don’t think all of this chapter will be used in Outlander Season 6. After all, I’m not sure Manfred’s story is going to come up at all. There will be no need for Claire to visit the brothel. Instead, I’m looking at the riot part of the chapter.
We need to see that the war is close to starting. We need the comments about why Jamie will need to switch sides when the time is right. There’s also the need to see Fergus find something to do.
I wonder as a way to keep Lauren Lyle and Cesar Domboy in the series if Outlander Season 6 will have him take over the printer in Cross Creek or maybe Wilmington instead of going further afield. While the books get away with letters to followup where people are, we become more connected to characters through their actors in TV and the shows will want to keep established characters around instead of constantly introducing new ones.
What did you spot while reading A Breath of Snow and Ashes Chapter 56? Let us know in the comments below.
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