Henry Grey turned to his uncle with a request in Outlander season 7, episode 11. He wanted John to write to Hal to get permission to marry Mercy Woodcock.
Well, that went down in a terrible way. John made it clear that he wouldn’t allow the two of them to marry, pointing out some arguably valid reasons for the time. While Claire called him out on his decision, John continued to stand by his choice.
Interracial marriage at the time was illegal
We just have to look at the time period to see the main reason Henry and Mercy can’t marry. While Mercy is a freewoman, she is still Black. Interracial marriages were illegal during this time period. In fact, it wasn’t until 1967 that interracial marriage was legalized, so even Claire wouldn’t have known it to be legal for long! Of course, that doesn’t stop Claire from wanting to fight for these two people in love.
John has no choice, though. Mercy points out that there are some priests who will marry them, but that doesn’t make their marriage legal in the eyes of the law. John can’t put them both at risk.
Mercy and Henry are on opposite sides of the war in Outlander
On top of that, Mercy is the widow of a Rebel. She hasn’t changed her view on the fight for the Rebels. Henry Grey is on the opposite side. At least, that’s what everyone assumes. It’s funny that nobody has actually asked which side he is on, and that’s probably because John doesn’t want to know there is another “traitor” in the house.
John can’t allow the two to marry. It would bring shame on the house with all that in mind. Claire did point out John’s hypocrisy at this point, but John made it clear that the brother of a duke and the son of a duke are two very different positions. Henry would lose his title, money, and land—although can we point out that Henry has an older brother called Benjamin?
John knows what illegal love is like
It’s the last reason that is arguably the best reason for John not to allow the marriage to happen. John knows what illegal love is like. He lives with that every single day. He wants to bring a stop to Henry and Mercy before it gets worse.
Illegal love doesn’t just lead to imprisonment. There will be many who turn against Henry for his love of a Black woman. There will be people who go after both Mercy and Henry, and their lives can end up on the line. John is arguably trying to protect both of them, but especially his own nephew.
Outlander airs on Fridays on STARZ.
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