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Date Posted: 19:27:33 02/27/10 Sat
Author: Andi B
Subject: great topic Tess - how does Shame play out?
In reply to: Tess 's message, "Mini-Reread for the Month of February, 2010: Claire and Lord John" on 03:40:14 02/15/10 Mon

This was a great mini-read. Very thought provoking. I think that the original encounter between LJG and Claire was fraught with humiliation for both individuals. Jamie shamed John when he tried to protect Claire from "dangerous and barbarous Red Jamie," and then he shamed Claire by ripping her dress and baring her body to John and his men.

It seems to me that forever Claire and John's interactions carry this original shame as an undercurrent. It certainly complicates their relationships to Jamie. A triangle indeed!

In my opinion, Claire often projects her need to poses Jamie fully onto Lord John. She gave up her world (and she thought her daughter) in order to return to be with Jamie. To me it seems that she is overly threatened by John. She allows her insecurities and past shame to control her relationship with him rather than the facts at hand. John did not pursue a sexual relationship with Jamie when he desired one. He built a respectful relationship with Jamie that was based on both his love and respect for Jamie's personal boundaries.

It seems that John often is willing to help Jamie and his family, even Claire's daughter Bree, when they are in need. Claire is resentful of caring for John when his is ill and not to thrilled by Willie. In comparison John offers to play foil for Bree even after she threatens him, and ends up risking his life. Additionally in John's relationship with Bree he chooses to take the high moral road by insisting he can not marry Bree. I wonder often how Claire acknowledges and honors John's role with Bree while she was pregnant and at River Run.

Thus I have come to believe that Claire is more shamed and vulnerable with John because of their original encounter than she would have been if that had not been between them.

Andi

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