How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Frank's ancestor, the notorious Black Jack Randall, had not been merely a gallant soldier for the Crown, but a trust—and secret—agent of the Duke of Sandringham. (2.92)
Much of the drama of the plot of Outlander comes from politics, power plays, and scandals, and Jack Randall encompasses all three. His allegiance is so ambiguous, Reverend Wakefield doesn't even understand where Randall's loyalties lie, and he has access to all sorts of historical documents.
Quote #2
"What exactly is obstruction?" I asked casually. […] "Ah. Well, I suppose it's whatever the English say it is." (4.73, 4.75)
Talk about tyranny. As the ruling power, the English pretty much do whatever they want to whomever they want. They don't even have to clearly define the crime Jamie's committed before they flog him for it.
Quote #3
No English officer with a grain of sense would lead his men so deeply into the clan lands. (5.12)
The English are tyrannical, yes, but the Scottish have power in concentration. They might not outnumber the English, but they are highly concentrated where they live, and almost everyone there believes the same thing: that the English are the enemy.
Quote #4
It quickly became apparent that this was the regular occasion on which the laird of Castle Leoch dispense justice to his tacksmen and tenants, hearing cases and settling disputes. (6.41)
The system of power and justice is a little different in 18th-century Scotland than it is anywhere else. Each of the Scottish clans have a leader, or laird, and that man is kind of like the Judge Judy of the castle—what he says, goes. We're not sure how this dictatorship is different from the tyrannical rule of the English king, but little details make huge differences, we guess.
Quote #5
Bluff called, I had little choice but to mutter something of the yes-well-perhaps-later variety, and excuse myself hastily on the pretext of visiting the necessary facilities before the singing should start. Game and set to Colum, but not yet match. (8.29)
Any lesser person would feel helpless going up against Colum, the chieftain of clan Mackenzie. But not Claire. She has power in her wits, and in her knowledge of the future. She's not a helpless woman, even when standing up to a very powerful man.
Quote #6
From the little I remembered of Bonnie Prince Charlie, the Young Pretender to the throne, part of his support had come from France, but part of the finances behind his unsuccessful rising had come from the shallow, threadbare pockets of the people he proposed to rule. (11.65)
When Claire learned all this in school, it was history, but now that she's living in it, it's politics. And it's shady politics, too. It's like if a politician raised campaign funds solely from people who are being served in soup kitchens.
Quote #7
"Shouldn't you help [Jamie]?" I murmured to Murtagh, out of the corner of my mouth. He looked surprised at the idea. "No, why?" "He'll call for help if he needs it," said Ned Gowan. (11.151-11.153)
When Jamie finds himself in a three-on-one barroom brawl (he's the one), he has enough physical power to take all the men out… and his companions know that. It would be insulting to Jamie if they helped… he needs to show off his strength at this moment.
Quote #8
"Earn their respect before ye do aught else. And if you canna do that, earn their fear." (13.33)
This is how power is earned on the Scottish Highlands. It seems that the men who do it best, like Colum Mackenzie, take a little bit from column A and a little bit from column B.
Quote #9
"I'm a pretty problem to the brothers Mackenzie. On the one hand, if I'm a threat to young Hamish's chieftainship, they want me safely dead. On the other, if I'm not, they want me—and my property—securely on their side if it comes to war." (20.29)
These power plays between Scottish clans can be confusing. They can also, strangely enough, be lifesaving. While it would simplify one issue to just have Jamie dead, his death would complicate another—perhaps more important—matter. So all this confusion keeps him alive… or at least delays his inevitable death.
Quote #10
"It's a damn thin line between justice and brutality, Sassenach. I only hope I've come down on the right side of it." (31.164)
As a leader, Jamie has to tread this fine line. Punishment needs to be severe enough to stick, but not harmful enough to cause the punished to want to seek retribution. Unfortunately in this case, with Jamie beating Ronald McNab, it comes back to harm him.