Malva Christie is a character on the historical drama Outlander. In season 5, she becomes pregnant out of wedlock, leading the town to speculate about who the father of her baby is. The two main suspects are Jamie Fraser and Father Allan Christie, Malva’s employer and adoptive father.
Who is Malva Christie?
Malva Christie is a young woman living in the 18th century Scottish Highlands. She was orphaned as a child and taken in by Tom and Claire Christie, becoming a maidservant in their household. In season 5 of Outlander, Malva becomes an apprentice to Claire Fraser, learning healing arts and midwifery. She is described as an intelligent and eager student.
How does Malva become pregnant?
In episode 7 of season 5, Malva reveals to Claire that she is pregnant. She does not disclose the name of the father. The pregnancy is scandalous because Malva is unmarried. During this time period, having a child out of wedlock would ruin a woman’s reputation. Malva begs Claire for help with terminating the pregnancy.
Suspect #1: Jamie Fraser
Jamie Fraser emerges as a suspect for several reasons:
Motive
Jamie and Malva spent time alone together on several occasions when she came to the Fraser’s Ridge homestead to assist Claire. As a handsome, virile man, Jamie could potentially have taken advantage of these private moments.
Rumors
Malva’s reputation is smeared around town. Mrs. Bug spreads rumors that she saw Malva leaving Jamie’s cabin one morning, implying they had an illicit encounter.
Accusations
When confronted by Claire, Malva implies that Jamie is the father. She claims he seduced her when they were alone. This causes serious tension between Jamie and Claire.
Suspect #2: Father Allan Christie
Father Allan, as Malva’s adoptive father, is the other main suspect in her pregnancy:
Motive
As a clergyman, Father Allan had plenty of chances to be alone with Malva. It’s possible he gave into temptation and lust with his beautiful adoptive daughter.
Access
Malva lived under the same roof as Father Allan. He could easily have crept into her room at night and forced himself on her without others knowing.
Power Dynamics
As an orphaned ward, Malva was dependent on the Christies for survival. Father Allan may have used his position of authority to coerce her into sex.
So Who is the Real Father?
While both Jamie and Father Allan are plausible suspects, the truth is not conclusively revealed in the show. Here are some possibilities:
Jamie Fraser
Malva may have seduced Jamie to become pregnant and force Claire out of the picture. She was infatuated with Jamie and jealous of Claire. Framing Jamie could have been her ploy to break them up.
Father Allan Christie
The most disturbing possibility is that Father Allan sexually abused Malva, his adoptive daughter. This would explain her desperation to end the pregnancy.
Another Man
Malva could have had a secret lover that no one knew about. Perhaps a solider at the militia camp. She may have protected his identity to avoid further scandal.
Uncertain Paternity
It’s also plausible that even Malva herself was uncertain who the father was. She was promiscuous and could have had multiple sexual partners around the time she got pregnant.
The Murder of Malva Christie
The paternity mystery takes a dark turn when Malva turns up dead. She is found outside Claire’s garden, throat slashed. This grisly murder clouds the truth of the baby’s origins.
Claire is the Main Murder Suspect
Claire is arrested for Malva’s murder. The town believes she killed Malva in a jealous rage about her affair with Jamie. Claire protests her innocence.
Mr. Christie Accuses Jamie
Enraged about his daughter’s death, Mr. Christie accuses Jamie of being the murderer. But there is no evidence against him.
The Real Killer is Revealed
Ultimately, Malva’s killer turns out to be Mr. Christie himself. On his deathbed, overcome with guilt, he confesses to slaying his adoptive daughter and unborn child.
The Significance of the Paternity Mystery
While never fully solved, the question of who fathered Malva’s baby drives much of the drama in Outlander season 5. Here’s a closer look at why it matters:
It Creates Tension in Jamie and Claire’s Marriage
The suspicion that Jamie cheated with Malva puts Jamie and Claire’s rock-solid marriage to the test. They have overcome many trials, but infidelity could irreparably damage their bond.
It Suggests Father Allan’s Hypocrisy
As a religious leader, Father Allan preaching morality while possibly committing incest would make him painfully hypocritical. This reflects badly on the corruptness of some clergymen of the time period.
It Exposes Societal Double Standards
An unmarried woman’s pregnancy was a major scandal, while men could have affairs with no consequences. This highlights the sexual double standard faced by women in the 18th century.
It Deepens the Mystery Around Malva
Much about Malva is left purposefully ambiguous. The paternity question further obscures Malva’s motivations and who she really was. This keeps viewers guessing about her agenda.
Conclusion
In the end, the father of Malva Christie’s baby is never conclusively revealed. But the mystery serves as a powerful catalyst that threatens Claire and Jamie’s marriage, makes Father Allan a more complex character, highlights societal gender inequality, and adds another layer to Malva’s enigma. While perhaps frustrating to some viewers, the lack of resolution mirrors real life, where not all truths come to light. The open-ended mystery leaves room for fans to keep speculating and debating this puzzling storyline from Outlander.
References
| Source | Key Points on Malva’s Paternity |
|---|---|
| Outlander Season 5 Episode 7 | Malva tells Claire she is pregnant but won’t reveal the father |
| Outlander Season 5 Episode 8 | Mrs. Bug spreads rumor she saw Malva leaving Jamie’s cabin |
| Outlander Season 5 Episode 9 | Malva implies to Claire that Jamie got her pregnant |
| Outlander Season 5 Episode 10 | Mr. Christie accuses Jamie of getting Malva pregnant and killing her |
| Outlander Season 5 Episode 11 | On his deathbed, Mr. Christie confesses he killed Malva |