Outlander Book Club: The Scottish Prisoner Chapter 21 breakdown

While The Scottish Prisoner Chapter 21 starts with Lord John Grey waiting for Jamie to return, it ends with the two of them discussing things about Siverly.

Lord John Grey starts off the chapter both annoyed and worried. Jamie is late back, and he wants to know why. He goes through all sorts of reasonable and ridiculous reasons.

Things soon turn on his head when Jamie does get back. Remember this is after that fight with Siverly.

Breaking down The Scottish Prisoner Chapter 21

The chapter starts with Lord John Grey thinking about Jamie being late from Glastuig. There are many reasons for this, and one of the reasons could be that Jamie has switched sides. However, John also worried that something has happened to Jamie. There is an amusing thought that a goose has fallen out of the sky and hit Jamie on the head. I love seeing how John’s thought process works.

Eventually, Jamie does get back, and John is concerned that Jamie isn’t wearing any shoes. Then it’s clear that Jamie has dried blood on his face and he’s in pain. What has happened?

Jamie catches John and Tom up on everything that happened in the previous chapter. He includes the fact that Siverly pretended not to recognize Jamie and only attacked once Jamie’s back was turned.

As Tom realizes that Jamie needs a poultice, he sends for the landlord’s wife. She notices the scars on Jamie’s shoulders and believes John did them. it’s a reminder of the animosity between some of the Irish and the English.

The men discuss what is going on with the poem. While John thinks that it is a conspiracy, Jamie has worked out that it’s a political conspiracy. Now he explains the white rose that is mention in the poem and that this means it is the Jacobites. It’s clear that the poem was a signal for those involved in this plot that Siverly is a part of.

There are more secrets for Jamie to share, including the fact that he knew Minnie while in Paris. Jamie now realizes that Lord John knew all about the white rose in the poem. Minnie had told him. It was a bit of a test for John and Jamie.

Back to the conspiracy, though. Jamie knows that considering Siverly’s wealth, this is a conspiracy to take seriously. The Jacobites needed the funds to carry out the plot, and they have it with Siverly’s money. John asks Jamie why he won’t fight in the cause, and Jamie is honest. He knows that the cause will fail. The men Jamie knows will need to be told this, but he’s no friend of Siverly’s.

John now feels some doubt about Siverly. He knows that he needs to stop Siverly, but there is a debt to repay. Siverly saved John in Quebec. Can he really turn on him now?

Could this chapter be used in a TV series?

If this book was adapted into a TV series, we would need to see it used. There is no way not to include it. We need to see Lord John Grey learn about Siverly attempting to kill Jamie. This is the big plot of the book, and the chapter furthers it.

This also helps John and Jamie be honest with each other. Jamie tells John about Minnie and the white rose, and Jamie realizes that John knew about it all the time. Jamie also makes it clear that he knows the Jacobite cause to be a lost one, and he won’t fight in it. There’s a level of trust forming between the two men, which we would need to see.

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