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 . . .
Do you want more Outlander chat? Get your fix by listening to The Outlander Cast Podcast with detailed show discussion and amazing interviews with cast, crew, writers and directors of Outlander on Starz |
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