Jamie and Claire’s relationship is central to the Outlander novels and TV series. As soulmates who traverse centuries to find each other, Jamie and Claire have an unbreakable bond. However, some fans have questioned whether Jamie is ever unfaithful to Claire during their time apart. This article will examine the evidence around whether Jamie cheats on Claire while she is in the future.
Jamie’s vow to Claire
Before Claire returns to the future through the stones at Craigh na Dun, Jamie makes a solemn vow to her that he will not take another wife. He promises to remain faithful to her even though they both believe they will never see each other again. Jamie is a man of his word and wants to honor Claire by keeping his promise. This suggests he would not engage in any romantic relationships after losing Claire.
Jamie’s grief over losing Claire
After Claire goes back to the future, Jamie is absolutely devastated. He wanders Scotland as a broken man, having lost the love of his life. Jamie channels his grief into work, trying to distract himself from his pain. He sees reminders of Claire everywhere and is unable to move on. Jamie clearly still feels bound to Claire and cannot fathom being with anyone else, at least for a long while after her disappearance.
Jamie’s marriage to Laoghaire
Several years after losing Claire, Jamie does end up marrying again, to Laoghaire MacKenzie. However, there are several mitigating factors that suggest this is not evidence of Jamie cheating on Claire.
A marriage of obligation
Jamie marries Laoghaire out of obligation, not love or passion. When Laoghaire’s second husband leaves her destitute with two young daughters, Jamie offers to marry her to give the girls a father and stabilize the family. He makes it clear the marriage is one of convenience, telling Laoghaire not to expect warm feelings from him.
Lack of physical consummation
Jamie and Laoghaire do not consummate their marriage – they do not have sex. Jamie makes it clear Laoghaire is not his true wife, saying he left his maidenhood with Claire in the woods years ago. He keeps distance from Laoghaire and honors his vow to Claire by not taking Laoghaire as a lover.
Jamie’s heart still belongs to Claire
Even in his technical marriage to Laoghaire, Jamie still loves and longs for Claire. On their wedding night, he whispers Claire’s name while asleep, showing she is still the real occupant of his heart. He never gives that sacred place to Laoghaire or puts their marriage before his commitment to Claire.
Jamie’s other romantic entanglements
Aside from the unconsummated marriage to Laoghaire, Jamie has a few other encounters that could be possible evidence of infidelity. However, further examination shows Jamie remains devoted to Claire.
Mary MacNab
While hiding out after Culloden, Jamie has a drunken encounter with a widow named Mary MacNab. They sleep together, but Jamie immediately regrets it and spends time at a monastery afterward to repent. He broke his vow to Claire in a moment of weakness and self-loathing, not real desire for Mary.
Geneva Dunsany
As a young man working as a groom, Jamie is coerced into taking the virginity of Geneva Dunsany. While Geneva pursues the encounter eagerly, Jamie participates reluctantly and feels shame about the act after. He does it from obligation to Geneva and her scheming mother, not willful infidelity against Claire.
Margaret Campbell
Jamie has a brief friendship with a woman named Margaret Campbell, who happens to be mentally ill and possess psychic abilities. She kisses Jamie spontaneously during one encounter, but nothing further ever transpires between them. Jamie does not reciprocate Margaret’s feelings.
Does Jamie take a second wife?
In the novels, Jamie does eventually marry again properly and fully. However, this does not constitute cheating on Claire due to the extraordinary circumstances.
Jamie travels to 1739
In Voyager, Jamie time travels to 1739 to try and change history by preventing the Jacobite Rising. He takes on an alias as an Englishman named Alexander Malcolm.
Jamie marries Geneva Dunsany’s sister
In his guise of Alexander Malcolm, Jamie marries a woman named Isobel Dunsany, the sister of Geneva from his past. But this occurs over a decade after Claire has gone back to the future. Jamie believes he will never see Claire again and reluctantly moves on with his life.
Claire returns soon after
Mere months after Jamie’s wedding to Isobel, Claire miraculously returns from the future. Their reunion in Voyager makes it clear Jamie’s heart always stayed true to Claire, even while married to another. He consummates this new marriage out of a sense of duty, not love.
Does the TV show change anything?
The Outlander TV show makes a few changes from the novels regarding Jamie’s fidelity. However, the core spirit remains the same.
No marriage to Isobel Dunsany
The Starz adaptation does not include Jamie marrying a second wife after Claire returns to the future. This streamlines the storyline while keeping Jamie devoted solely to Claire’s memory.
Laoghaire shoots, not stabs
When Jamie and Claire reunite, it is not Laoghaire but her daughter who tries to kill Claire out of jealousy. Jamie is still innocent and committed completely to Claire.
Show upholds Jamie’s faithfulness
While taking some poetic license, the Outlander showrunners uphold Jamie as a man who keeps his vow and does not willingly break faith with Claire. Any betrayals come from circumstance, not infidelity.
Conclusion
Based on Jamie’s words and actions in both the Outlander books and TV show, the weight of evidence suggests he does not willingly cheat on or abandon his love and commitment to Claire during their long separations. Minor infractions occur due to extraordinary situations, not because Jamie’s devotion ever falters. Their soulmate bond transcends space and time, persisting no matter what hardships they face. Jamie remains faithful in his heart to his one true love.
| Year | Jamie’s Status | Incidents |
|---|---|---|
| 1746 | Mourning Claire’s disappearance | – |
| 1752 | Marries Laoghaire | Unconsummated marriage |
| 1755 | Hiding after Culloden | Drunken encounter with Mary MacNab |
| 1757 | Works as groom at Helwater | Coerced by Geneva Dunsany |
| 1764 | Prints seditious pamphlets | Spontaneous kiss from Margaret Campbell |
| 1766 | Time travels to 1739 | Marries Isobel Dunsany in past |