Claire and Jamie attend Simon Fraser’s funeral in Outlander Book 7, Chapter 75
It’s January, and it’s time for a funeral in Outlander Book 7, Chapter 75. This funeral is nothing like the ones we’ve experienced in the books before.
I do feel for Simon Fraser in this chapter. He’s been gone for so long on military campaigns that his family doesn’t even know him anymore. It doesn’t even look like his wife wants his body to be in Scotland to bury. In fact, Simon’s brother, Hugh, is the one who takes over the funeral arrangements.
Simon will get a funeral that is worthy of his title and military successes. That doesn’t mean people want to be there, and Claire notices that.
There is a big moment for Ian, though. He brings some Mohawk traditions to the funeral, potentially as a way to see what the people of Scotland will think of him. It’s like he’s seeing what reactions could be like once he gets back home to Lallybroch.
I’m not sure we’ll see the chapter used in the series, but I’ll get to my thoughts on why it could in the adaptation section. I don’t see any foreshadowing in this. It’s more about moving the plot forward to get ready for Lallybroch.
Let’s dive into An Echo in the Bone Chapter 75.
Just the Outlander chapter
Claire, Jamie, and Ian are on their way to the funeral with everyone else. They’re going to Corrimony, where the chieftan tomb that Simon is going to be buried in is placed within some standing stones. Claire and Jamie worry about this, but Claire says that she doesn’t hear the buzzing.
I’m trying to remember at this point, though. Surely the stones wouldn’t be open in January. Okay, there may be a chance they’re close to some of the time periods, such as the start of February, but I wouldn’t have thought there would be buzzing with the way the books deal with time travel. If it was in the show, I could see this being more of a concern.
Back to the story. The mourners aren’t exactly emotional. It turns out that nobody really remembers Simon. Of course, Hugh wants something worthy of Simon’s accomplishments, but nobody really cares about the man. Even Simon’s wife barely remembers him since he’s been gone for so long.
Claire thinks about Uncle Lamb for a bit. This is linked to the clava cairn, which is the type of stone circle they are in. Uncle Lamb had some photos in one of these.
At the end of the chapter, Ian steps forward to give Simon Fraser a good send-off. He does it in the Mohawk way, and it’s unclear why he opts for this. Is he making it clear that he will be Mohawk wherever he goes? Is he just trying to bring out some emotion? Is this something Simon would have wanted? Is it just a way to see how people react so he knows what to potentially expect at Lallybroch?
It’s all hard to say, but there isn’t much of a commotion. Once Ian finishes the people in attendance sigh and leave. It’s so sad for Simon and makes me wonder why he didn’t end up buried in America where he would have been surrounded by those who served with him and loved him.
Foreshadowing in the Outlander chapter
There isn’t too much foreshadowing in this. If someone had reacted badly to Ian’s dress, I could see it. Instead, everyone just didn’t really care. It was nothing considering the lack of care for Simon Fraser.
Maybe it’s foreshadowing another death to come, and the way people will mourn that loss. Yes, I’m speaking of Ian’s father, Ian Murray.
Adapting An Echo in the Bone chapter
I would like to see this chapter used for a couple of reasons. I’d like to see how moving across countries leads to people forgetting about their family. I’ve experienced it. I don’t know a lot of my cousins or their children anymore, and I’ve only been gone for six years. My children don’t really know my family all that well.
I also want to see Ian do the Mohawk song. However, I could see this being used for Ian Sr.’s funeral instead. There may not be the time to make Simon Fraser’s storyline fit fully, but there could be time to include the Mohawk song.
What did you spot while reading An Echo in the Bone Chapter 75? Let us know in the comments below.
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