Written By: Paige Contreras
Aaaaaaaaaahhhhh love! L-O-V-E. No, I’m not gonna start singing the song. It’s been the subject many books and, towards the end of them, you sigh and hope you find the same thing one day. Movies have gone down in history for some of the most famous love scenes ever to grace the silver screen. Poems, sonnets, and plays have been known to make our heart go pitter patter ever since our first English Class. It’s such a small word, but the meaning of it can have an impact on rest of our lives and can affect the decisions we make. It packs a punch. Especially when it comes in book form. Now, for me, I was one of the girls who would read my favorite book late into the hours of the night, thinking “I’m not gonna find a better love story than this”. But if other love stories packed a punch, believe me when I tell you, Outlander was a sucker punch.
How would you define love? Some would use a movie reference. In Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Darcy helps out Elizabeth’s family when Lydia runs away with Whickam. In Anne of Green Gables, Gilbert gives up his teaching position so that Anne can stay closer to home and be with Marilla. Noah builds a house for Allie in “The Notebook”. Maybe you would say to that person “I would go to moon and back for you” or “I would take a bullet for you”. Maybe it’s the wife that goes to the game with their husband, or the husband going to a play with their wife even though they hate going to those things. It’s not how they would ideally spend their time, but they do it because it puts a smile on their spouse’s face and makes them happy.
However, love doesn’t always have to be romantic.
Parental love is one that is extremely special between a parent and their child. Making sure they don’t put their hand on the stove, kissing their owies and boo-boos. Even though that is a bond I only have only experienced from a child’s perspective, I see how it is from the parental view from many of my friends who do have kids. It’s something that is indescribable to even view . . . the love between a parent and child. And you never stop being a parent or someones child, even after either has passed.
The love of friendships is a special bond. The dearest friends can tell if one another is angry, sad, happy, excited, tired with just one look. It’s with that someone who you pour your heart out to and you know they won’t laugh at you, unless it’s actually funny. You are there for each other despite whatever it is you have going on. You are there for them in whatever decisions they make, in whatever pickle that they find themselves in.
That’s what’s so attractive about Outlander. Love comes in all shapes and sizes in this 800 + book. There’s never not a sign of it. Claire and Frank ( don’t give me that look some of you. As much as you like to ignore it, they did love each other), Jamie and Claire, Jamie and Jenny, Jenny and Ian, the Murray family as a whole, Claire’s love of herbs and helping people. Even love of country. All throughout, they fight for it. And they do their best to keep a firm grip on it, nearly at the cost of their very lives.
As Jenny Fraser Murray said “Love forces a person to choose. You do things you never imagined you could do before”.
If I could, I would list every single example of what these characters have done for their loved ones. But we would be here till Christmas. A couple do stick out in my mind right now.
They had a sense of trust between each other. They connect through their passion of herbs and medicinal uses. Even though they could tell there was something off about the other.
When that episode aired, it tugged my heartstrings. His internal conflict was written on his face. It was the hardest thing he ever had to do up until then. It took courage and strength for him to do that. They way he reacts when he sees her and realizes she didn’t go through the stones, puts a smile on my face every single time.
But Jamie’s ultimate sacrifice was in saving Claire at the cost of his body. Claire tries to save Jamie from the hands of Jack Randall, but her plan is foiled. In a last effort to save Claire, Jamie sacrifices himself to ensure Claire’s safety.
Reading it was one thing, but seeing it, just brought emotions from all over the spectrum. I compare it to the episodes of “Downton Abbey”. The first was when Sybil died in childbirth, and the other when Anna was raped. BOTH had amazing acting!! Top notch! But I can’t bring myself to watch them ever again. The same with this. Tobias, Sam and Caitriona where unbelievably brilliant in 1×15 and 1×16. But I don’t think I can bring myself to watch them again. If I do, there will be alcohol, chocolate, tissues, my blankie and my dog.
What do we see from these examples?
For me, I see that when you have someone that you found that connection with,whether it be a friend, family member, or the person you want to spend the rest of your life with you don’t want to let them go. You hold onto them. Yes, it’s work. Yes it’s hard. But it’s worth it.
I see that it takes extraordinary measures and strength to fight for love.
So, out of the FIRST book and first season . . .
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Amazingly enough the part I admire about how they both show love to each other is the same that's shown to me. And really their love blooms beautifully as the books go along, that Outlander is only the beginning. It only sets the stage – all the day-to-day (which to me is much harder than those exciting moments) living is yet to come. Oh boy – can't wait to see what the gang does with the next 7 (…..or maybe that's 8…..and possibly 9 by then) books. It's evident that Claire and Jamie have very strong personalities, and they both have a very strong idea about who they are and what they are to do (something I really admire). But, even though they may not agree with it, they allow the other to do what they know is right for their own personality and being, such as Jamie feeling a need to be a warrior – that he was "born to it", while Claire has a need to heal, even if the guy and his gang just raped her.
My guy let's me take the big risk to allow me to make it on my own. He doesn't enable me nor does he stop me nor does he make my success his responsibility. He shares in my failures and my successes (cause failure and successes are nothing if they can't be shared) .
I also love how Claire and Jamie nurture that greatness in the other. They allow the other to bloom without having to take the credit, and yet they are the first to take the responsibility. Claire won't let Jamie blame himself for the kidnapping of Ian, and Jamie won't let Claire sink away from him after her rape. Both are tremendous acts of courage – but I think that's what we all like about Claire & Jamie – they make us feel like we could be better people just for having known them.
Claire, thank you so much for your thoughts and sharing your own experiences! We so appreciate you taking the time to read and provide feedback!
I do want to caution against posting spoilers for anything that hasn't happened in book 1, however. It's okay to talk about, but if you could give a *spoiler warning* at the top, that would be fantastic!
Thanks, again!
Very well put, Paige! Thank you! … Personally, I think, whatever we do, or somebody does for us, that takes us/him/her out of our/their 'comfort zone' and goes 'the extra mile', is done in the name of love. And, mind that, this love can take very different shapes.
Sometimes it means moving to another country, far away from your family – and then so very often it means 'little things' — like getting up first and making morning coffee etc., so that your loved one can sleep an extra 20 min.
In the end it should mean that we try to accept the other as he/she is – and not try to change her/him – and try to be a better person for each others sake.
In this respect – having read all the a.m. examples – with Jamie and Claire (and many other characters) Diana Gabaldon has given us one of the most complex couples in literature – with all the hardship, challenges, loving dedication and determination humanly possible – that we can very well identify with and take as a 'little reminder' sometimes.
The fabulously realized series gave unforgettably impressive faces to those characters, – and to people (who may not have read the book(s) a 'living' example of how love can be 'lived'.
Thank you!! And i agree ; this couple is unique. They go through alot of hardships and situations that can relate to our own lives.
Thank you Claire for that personal expression!!
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