How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
I think we both felt that [Inverness] was a symbolic place to reestablish our marriage; we had been married and spent a two-day honey-moon in the Highlands, shortly before the outbreak of war six years before. (1.9)
Marriage is one of the first themes mentioned in the book, which is a big red flag to us that it's going to be explored quite a bit as the story unfolds. As someone who ends up with two husbands, Claire knows quite a bit about marriage.
Quote #2
"Do you think I've been unfaithful to you?" I demand. "Do you? Because if so, you can leave this room this instant. Leave the house altogether! How dare you imply such a thing?" (1.185)
Claire takes her marriage vows seriously. Even while she was away from Frank at war for six years, she honored them. That's one of the reasons it's so difficult for her to rationalize her marriage to Jamie… but we guess it's a little easier to do this when your husband hasn't even been born yet.
Quote #3
"The only way I can legally refuse to give ye to Randall is to change ye from an Englishwoman into a Scot. […] Ye must marry a Scot. Young Jamie." (13.119, 13.122)
Marriage isn't always about romance. In fact, in this time period, it seems to be more about money or power. In Claire's case, her marriage to Jamie is an opportunity to save her own life.
Quote #4
If I were in fact to be married, I didn't want to do it looking like the village drudge. (14.15)
Go big or go home, huh? Even though Claire's already been married once, she decides she might as well look nice for her second wedding… a wedding she doesn't even really want. Why does she care about her appearance here? Is it because she wants to look good for herself, or for Jamie?
Quote #5
I gasped as the point of the dirk scored deeply across his wrist, leaving a dark line welling blood. There was not time to jerk away before my own hand was seized and I felt the burning slice of the blade. Swiftly, Dougal pressed me wrist to Jamie's and bound the two together with a strip of white linen. (14.65)
This is where the phrase tying the knot comes from. We had no idea it was so bloody. Maybe we should start using a different phrase?
Quote #6
"Did ye no promise to obey me?" [Jamie] asked, shaking me gently. "Yes, but—" But only because I had to, I was going to say, but he was already urging my horse's head around toward the thicket. (20. 96-20.97)
As you can tell from the whole exchanging-of-blood thing above, they take marriage vows seriously in this time, and when they say obey they mean it. Jamie expects Claire to do as he says, or else she will be punished for it. Claire, used to acting of her own accord, of course disobeys. We'll see the punishment later.
Quote #7
"I am your master… and you're mine. Seems I canna possess your soul without losing my own." (23.180)
These would be good wedding vows, we think, because Jamie realizes that Claire isn't just subservient to him; he is subservient to her in ways, too. Their marriage is a delicate balance, with the scales always tipping back and forth.
Quote #8
"He had money, a good position. And I doubt he beat her." (26.36)
And that's the Highlander's definition of a good marriage. In this time period, is it even necessary for a man to do anything else?
Quote #9
"[I'm] the Sassenach wench Jamie's married." (26.160)
At least Claire has a sense of humor about how atypical her marriage is to Jamie, and how others might view it. People in the clans of Scotland don't typically marry outside them.
Quote #10
"My wedding night's no one's business but mine and yours—sure it's not his! Next you'll be showing him the sheets from my bridal bed!" (26.205)
This sentence is full of 18th-century weirdness. We're not sure if the concept of privacy exists at this time, and the fact that couples saved blood-stained bridal sheets to prove the wives were virgins… well, that leaves us speechless.