As Jamie is ridiculed for his war cry in Virgins section 6, the entire group is made to feel uncomfortable. It turns out that none of them are really happy with what happens to the Jewish people.
Of course, someone needs to find out why the attack happened, but it’s the way that the interrogation happens that leads to the discomfort among the mercenaries. At this point, I think I’m going to like this group of people. At least, the younger soldiers — definitely not the captain!
Breaking down Virgins section 6
The section starts with Ian taking Jamie to change into his spare shirt. They need to make Jamie’s wounds less visible, and they also need to clean all the blood out of the shirt. At least, as much as they can.
They’re interrupted during this as the other mercenaries come to learn what the war cry was that Jamie shouted. Of course, the “ready” part of the family motto is the bit that has them all laughing. We have to remember that these are a group of young men, and they are mercenaries. The sexual innuendoes are just part of who they are, and I do get a sense that this is more of a way to pull Jamie into the group, making him feel somewhat welcome.
However, things take a turn when the priest comes for water. He wants to bless it so that he can perform a baptism on one of the prisoners, who is Jewish. This man is going to be tortured and interrogated before he is killed.
One of the mercenaries is also Jewish, and he is uncomfortable with everything that is about to happen. He’s not the only one, either. All of the mercenaries are uncomfortable with the treatment of the Jewish people, and I feel like this is a great sign for Jamie and Ian. They are with the right group of men, even if the captain is a piece of work.
But I get that answers need to be gained, and torture is the way to get that. It was used all the time, and it still is. While it doesn’t make it right, it makes it a fact, and there’s no way around showing that in the short story.
Could this section be used in a TV adaptation?
If there was ever an adaptation of Jamie’s time with the mercenaries in Virgins, I would like to see this chapter used. It does connect to the next part of the short story, as the details of the attack need to be revealed. It’s also a great look at the way Jamie is accepted by the mercenaries.
Sure, there’s some teasing, but this teasing doesn’t make Jamie hate his family’s motto. It’s a right of passage in a way, and we need to see how Jamie deals with all of this as a young man, especially after everything he has been through.
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