We get to see more of William’s personality in Outlander Book 7, Chapter 10
We head back to William’s story in Outlander Book 7, Chapter 10. While it seems like very little happens, this is an important chapter to get to know William more.
As I re-read some of these chapters, I continue to question why everyone views him as a spoiled brat. When he was young, sure. That was his upbringing and as he understood the way of the world. Now that he’s an adult, we get to see how he’s family-orientated and modest. He doesn’t use his family connections to get what he wants or to even gain some sort of attention from those above him.
At the same time, we see that sometimes he does want attention. He wants to feel like he fits in with others around him, with his peers. That’s only natural for anyone.
While some of these elements to his personality are like Jamie, there are also parts of him that are likely from his mother’s side. It’s his need for revenge against the Americans. Oh how he’s going to rethink everything in the future, and I think this is where some of the foreshadowing is in this chapter.
I do wonder if we’ll see some of the chapter adapted for the series. There are elements of it that we’ll need when it comes to William’s personality and character. I’ll get to my thoughts on that in the adaptation section.
Let’s dive into An Echo in the Bone Chapter 10.
Just the Outlander chapter
The chapter picks up with William thinking about how embarrassed and annoyed he is that the Americans escaped. He’s all the more annoyed that nobody wants to go out and capture them. Maybe those higher up should have taken the Americans as the threat they were!
However, the chapter moves on. William receives some letters. One of those is from his cousin Dottie, who he hasn’t spent a lot of time with. Whatever she’s written to him about leads to him quickly pocketing the letter.
The other letters are from John Grey and his Uncle Hal. William doesn’t tell General Fortnum that these lords are his family. It’s clear that William doesn’t really want to use his name to get him anywhere, and that’s probably a good idea. A letter from John warns him to keep a low profile. John just wants to protect his stepson.
Something that I also love is that William has picked up tips from John over the years. He’s seen how John could break seals without actually breaking them. It’s easy, and William does that with these letters. He’s observant, just like Jamie.
The letter from Hal includes some items, including sherry and olives. There is also a book of naked women, which William’s cousin, Adam, who is there, made sure was included. After some drinks, William reads some of the passages aloud in a dramatic fashion much to the enjoyment of his colleagues.
However, we also see a disappointing side to William. When a young girl is sexually assaulted by some of the officers, William initially goes to help her. He’s pulled back with the comment that there are too many for him to stop. So that means nobody else is going to help, and William just stands there. I get why. It would have been worse for William to go in alone, but it’s still disappointing that he doesn’t try anything to stop the officers.
That is until William snaps. We see the Jamie in him come out. He grabs one of the men and cracks the man’s head on the doorpost. It’s too late for the girl, though. She’s been murdered by these men. William witnesses a needless death, an innocent life taken. This is going to change him.
Foreshadowing in the Outlander chapter
There is certainly some foreshadowing in this chapter when it comes to William’s view of the Americans. He is going to find himself torn in what to do as he realizes who Jamie actually is to him. Right now, William is certain in who he is, but he’s going to lose some of that in the coming books.
We also see that William is observant. It’s clear that he’s going to see who Jamie is to him the next time he sees Jamie. This foreshadows all of that for me.
I think the harsh realities of human nature is also some foreshadowing. William has been relatively idealistic up to this point, but it’s all going to change. Get ready for more of William’s character development.
Adapting An Echo in the Bone chapter
I do hope we see some of this chapter play out. We need to see William’s personality and understand who he is. It doesn’t have to be a lot of it, but the ending to the chapter is admittedly a major moment for William’s character development. I just hate that violence against women is used more as a plot device in a story than something much bigger.
“But it happened in history…” Yes, I know that, but there are ways to include the realities of history without it being some sort of plot development, especially plot development for a male character. This is just a little too cliche, too much of a trope for me.
However, I would also like to see William with the letters. I want to see him open the letters without actually breaking the seals, and I want to see him look at the gifts he’s received as well as him fitting in with the other officers. There isn’t going to be a lot of time, but things like this for a character we haven’t got to know well yet are important.
What did you spot while reading An Echo in the Bone Chapter 10? Let us know in the comments below.
Like Claire and Jamie on Facebook for the latest from the Outlander Book Club and much more.