Outlander Book Club: The Scottish Prisoner Chapter 31 breakdown

Tempers are high in The Scottish Prisoner Chapter 31. There’s also a lot of name calling.

This chapter takes place back at Hal Grey’s house. Hal is angry at everything he has heard about happening at the Beefsteak. He wants to speak to Jamie, and there are many insults uttered between the two of them.

Of course, it all comes down to the duel that Jamie and Twelvetrees are set to have. The date and weapons have also been confirmed. This is happening.

Breaking down The Scottish Prisoner Chapter 31

The chapter starts with Hal angry and demanding from John to know where Jamie is. There are multiple insults shared as Jamie comes out of the library with a book about philosophy. However, Jamie is, for once, the calmer of the two.

Jamie takes the time to explain the Wild Hunt’s plans. He makes Quinn’s part in the Jacobite uprising clear, and it makes it clear that this is happening. Hal needs to act fast if he wants to put a stop to it.

I do have to chuckle a little. Claire said that the Jacobites had failed after Culloden. However, Jamie has noted that this uprising could have worked. He just knows that it will fail because of what Claire says, so he makes sure that happens. Is it because of Jamie that the Jacobites fail in this attempt?

Back to Hal, John, and Jamie. Hal decides that he needs to talk to Harry Quarry and other senior officers within his regiment. He also needs a meeting with the Prime Minister. They are all now taking this seriously.

With that, the topic of the duel comes up. Hal wants to prevent John from duelling with Twelvetrees, but John isn’t going to back out now, and Jamie won't let him. When Jamie leaves, John and Hal discuss the weapons that should be used, and they discuss what will happen if John ends up killing Twelvetrees.

This is when John explains that the time and weapon of choice have been decided. It will take place the next morning at 6 a.m. at Lambeth Palance and will be fought with sabres.

Could this chapter be used in a TV series adaptation?

If there was a TV adaptation of The Scottish Prisoner, I could certainly see this chapter being used in part. We’d need to see Jamie and Hal arguing with each other, since it connects back to the Wild Hunt poem. We need to see how that is going to be resolved, and Hal needs a reason to request a meeting with the Prime Minister.

The bit that could be avoided if there isn’t enough time is the discussion of the duel. John can simply state where it will be held and what the weapon of choice is. The rest of the conversation is pointless—no pun intended.

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