Comments on: Jamie and the Rule of Three https://dianagabaldon.com/2010/12/jamie-and-the-rule-of-three/ Author of the Outlander Series Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:45:02 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=3.9.40 By: Diana https://dianagabaldon.com/2010/12/jamie-and-the-rule-of-three/comment-page-1/#comment-506959 Wed, 30 Mar 2016 07:53:08 +0000 http://www.dianagabaldon.com/2010/12/jamie-and-the-rule-of-three/#comment-506959 Dear Wanda–

Have you read the book, watched the TV show, or both? I think the book probably gives a more thorough picture of Jamie’s state of mind. In essence, though, Randall deprived him of hope, hurt him badly and repeatedly, and when he was in complete despair, then “made love” to him, and made Jamie’s body respond to him. This betrayal by his own body made Jamie feel that he had completely lost himself. (I’ve read many accounts by rape victims, and it’s not uncommon for people who’ve been abused over a long period of time to feel increasing helplessness–and depending on the circumstances and what’s done to them, sometimes to feel involuntary sexual response, which horrifies them and causes terrible guilt, as they feel complicit in their own rape.)

And if you have been reading the books, I’d direct you to the part of DRAGONFLY where Claire mentions to Jamie that William Grey (in his bravado) said that Jamie couldn’t break him To which Jamie wearily responds, “Christ, Sassenach. Ye can break anyone if ye’re willing to hurt them badly enough. I ken that, if anyone does.”

–Diana

]]> By: Wanda https://dianagabaldon.com/2010/12/jamie-and-the-rule-of-three/comment-page-1/#comment-506941 Wed, 30 Mar 2016 06:06:15 +0000 http://www.dianagabaldon.com/2010/12/jamie-and-the-rule-of-three/#comment-506941 Dear Diana…I need some help in understanding how Randall was able to capture Jamie’s soul during the rape. At what point did he weaken Jamie’s resolve? Did it result from the physical pleasure that Jamie felt against his will? Was it caused by some aspect of the physical torture? Or, was there some emotional component that Randall was able to latch onto that I just haven’t grasped?

I am having a terrible time suspending my disbelief that Randall could penetrate such a formidable constitution as Jamie’s.

]]> By: “Hear, Here – The Ear” | https://dianagabaldon.com/2010/12/jamie-and-the-rule-of-three/comment-page-1/#comment-392974 Tue, 23 Jun 2015 10:09:03 +0000 http://www.dianagabaldon.com/2010/12/jamie-and-the-rule-of-three/#comment-392974 […] you read Diana Gabaldon’s article about story telling and the Rule of Three? Well, you may be surprised to learn that anatomy also has a Rule of […]

]]> By: Lori Moore https://dianagabaldon.com/2010/12/jamie-and-the-rule-of-three/comment-page-1/#comment-376959 Fri, 05 Jun 2015 19:05:22 +0000 http://www.dianagabaldon.com/2010/12/jamie-and-the-rule-of-three/#comment-376959 Hello to you Diana Gabaldon. I, too, am late on the Outlander scene. I confess I haven’t read your books, but picked up the Season 1a DVDs (don’t get Starz) & have decided to wait to read the books after I’ve experienced watching the DVDs (wish they came out sooner!). Anyway, you’re stories are incredibly historic, in-depth, never haphazardly thrown together or hurried, & exceptionally told. I feel as if I’m a participant in the story! I’m an American whose nephew has been researching our family ancestry. He hasn’t completed his search, but has found that we have over 1/3rd Scottish ancestry. The Outlander show is so superbly acted with gorgeous cinematography, & I have decided to travel to Scotland to track my family there. I hope to go within the next year or two & for several of my family members to accompany me. As I said before, being new to you & your book series I wondered if you are of Scottish ancestry & what caused you to base your stories in the Scottish Highlands, the historical era of the 1700s, & their struggle with England? I love the excitement of the time-travel aspect of the story, & because of your book theme I’m now very interested in learning more of the bloody barbaric true wars that ensued. Thank you for bringing entertainment to a new higher standard; with historical accuracy & never shying away from details as you describe what it really was like to live the life of a post World War II nurse, to be scourged as Jaime was, or to suffer at the hands of a sadist such as Black Jack Randall.

]]> By: Carlene https://dianagabaldon.com/2010/12/jamie-and-the-rule-of-three/comment-page-1/#comment-355953 Tue, 12 May 2015 02:10:53 +0000 http://www.dianagabaldon.com/2010/12/jamie-and-the-rule-of-three/#comment-355953 Diana,

I’ve been reading some interesting, yet ignorant comments, on the new episode Wentworth Prison which appears this Saturday night. In my frustration, I started searching and found this reply to someone who had a hard time dealing with what was happening in the books and it settled me to read it. Just a suggestion but maybe it would be good for you to post something similar to it after the episode airs on Saturday (or maybe before) because it really makes sense why you did it in threes and what he was willing to sacrifice and how it would take from it without everyone knowing what Jamie went thru and what Claire is willing to sacrifice to have the love of her life back. It’s so well written and it explains so much for those who are making an issue of what is to come. I feel people don’t understand what true sacrifice is for someone you love.

Thank you for writing such wonderful books! They have gotten me thru some hard times in my life. I’ve been a fan since the beginning and I appreciate you even more now than before. Ron Moore is doing a wonderful job putting your *thick* books to screen! Sam and Cat are just perfect for their parts and its so enjoyable seeing it on screen after 20 some years!
Carlene

]]> By: CAROLYN https://dianagabaldon.com/2010/12/jamie-and-the-rule-of-three/comment-page-1/#comment-264304 Tue, 13 Jan 2015 15:28:56 +0000 http://www.dianagabaldon.com/2010/12/jamie-and-the-rule-of-three/#comment-264304 Dear Diana,
Thanks for the reply!

Who knows indeed?! Hope you have a wonderful day!

Carolyn

]]> By: Diana https://dianagabaldon.com/2010/12/jamie-and-the-rule-of-three/comment-page-1/#comment-263508 Mon, 12 Jan 2015 09:01:10 +0000 http://www.dianagabaldon.com/2010/12/jamie-and-the-rule-of-three/#comment-263508 Dear Carolyn–

She hasn’t so far, but who knows? [g]

–Diana

]]> By: Caryn Marshall Wilder https://dianagabaldon.com/2010/12/jamie-and-the-rule-of-three/comment-page-1/#comment-263190 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 22:20:20 +0000 http://www.dianagabaldon.com/2010/12/jamie-and-the-rule-of-three/#comment-263190 Hello Diana, and mountains of magical wishes to you on your birthday!

I’m embarrassed to say I came late to the Outlander party but once I arrived, I wasted not one second diving into every book! Like a rabid dog, I would burst into every bookseller’s shop in the very small mountain town where I live in Northern California, panting and glassy eyed, hoping they would have a copy of the next book I needed! I could barely get through work each day and rushed through my chores at home, impatiently waiting for my husband to turn off the TV and go to bed so I could finally have peace and quiet to enjoy my fix, which would often last into the wee hours of the morning! I am truly addicted now and will forcefully refuse any attempts to send me to Outlander rehab! I finished “. . . . My Own Heart’s Blood” a couple of weeks ago, and have been moping around ever since wondering what I’m going to do now. I read another book, but, nyeh, I didn’t get the same rush and actually took “. . … . ..Blood” out of the bookcase and reread the last chapter just to keep Jamie and Claire close.

My mother is an avid reader but usually sticks to “bodice busters” and bad westerns, so I gave her a copy of Outlander for Christmas, and will send her the next book as she finishes each one. We are polar opposites in opinion regarding most subjects; maybe we’ll be able to bond a little over Jamie and Claire’s adventures!

I drive for a living and see all kinds of bumper stickers every day. During one of my boo hoo moments, I asked myself “What would Claire do?” and then thought, “Hey! That would make a great bumper sticker!” One for Jamie, too, of course, or both of them! You could pass them out at book signing events!

Diana, thank you profusely for sharing your truly stunning gift of wordsmithing with the world! We are all better people for it!

Happy Birthday!

]]> By: Dorianne https://dianagabaldon.com/2010/12/jamie-and-the-rule-of-three/comment-page-1/#comment-262188 Sat, 10 Jan 2015 13:20:43 +0000 http://www.dianagabaldon.com/2010/12/jamie-and-the-rule-of-three/#comment-262188 Ms Diana. Thank you for your response. I re read my comments where I made many spelling errors and feel like a twit because you ‘actually’ read it and responded. Thank you for that. I agree with your insight but meant on a visceral level toward the end of the raping. I guess other people who’ve become huge fans (I blew through every book you’ve written so far on Jamie and Claire and Lord John, twice) must also feel intense, about Jamie’s rape. It goes to his soul, goes to his life with his love. Almost through every book. Strange thing when a woman reads about such a terror. I’d look across the room where my husband would be, trying to imagine what I was reading on a real level. I couldn’t of course, (except for the love and sex) so I’d ask him what he thought of a piece you wrote. Obviously, his opinion would be from instinct, and he lost it when I read him the part where Alex dies and Jamie helped Black Jack. And Making it more difficult for me, my husband is 6’4, all male, with a smile in his blueish eyes too, light brown hair that has ginger in it, and his name IS Jaime. I couldn’t make it up I swear.

]]> By: CAROLYN https://dianagabaldon.com/2010/12/jamie-and-the-rule-of-three/comment-page-1/#comment-260414 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 17:26:04 +0000 http://www.dianagabaldon.com/2010/12/jamie-and-the-rule-of-three/#comment-260414 Thanks so much for the Outlander Series and now the Starz Series! I have read and enjoyed most of the books- getting ready to read MOBY. I was wondering since Jamie remembered his palm reading by a gypsy (when he was in France fighting the war) will Claire ever reference her palm reading by Mrs. Graham?

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