Father James

Perhaps this post should wait for Father’s Day, but that holiday remains months away and Outlander S.3 is bursting with Jamie’s fatherhood. Patriarch, dad, daddy, dada, da, pa, padre, pop, pappy, papa, poppa, paterfamilias and sire; whichever title you use to address fathers, each applies to Jamie.

Jamie is father to many – his own biological offspring as well as foster son, Fergus. He is also the prototype of a father many dream of having: intelligent, patient, loyal, dependable, steady, strong, firm, confident, protective, and loving.

Lord John Grey provides a sage description of Jamie’s power as a father (Voyager book):

“Jamie—” he said, putting his hand on Fraser’s shoulder. The Scot swung round, his features hastily readjusting themselves, but not fast enough to hide the misery in his eyes. He stood still, looking down at the Englishman.

“You’re right to go,” Grey said. Alarm flared in Fraser’s eyes, quickly supplanted by wariness.

“Am I?” he said.

“Anyone with half an eye could see it,” Grey said dryly. “If anyone ever actually looked at a groom, someone would have noticed long before now.” …

Some sires stamp their get. I have the distinct impression that any offspring of yours would be unmistakable.”

 

Each of Jamie’s children are indelibly stamped by his genetic legacy. One look at his beautiful children and tears spill.

Starz episode 207, Faith

FAITH (Dragonfly in Amber book)

“She was perfect,” I said softly, as though to myself. “So small. I could cup her head in the palm of my hand. Her ears stuck out just a little—I could see the light shine through them. The light had shone through her skin as well, glowing in the roundness of cheek and buttock with the light that pearls have; still and cool, with the strange touch of the water world still on them. “Mother Hildegarde wrapped her in a length of white satin,” I said, looking down at my fists, clenched in my lap. “Her eyes were closed. She hadn’t any lashes yet, but her eyes were slanted. I said they were like yours, but they said all babies’ eyes are like that.” Ten fingers, and ten toes. No nails, but the gleam of tiny joints, kneecaps and fingerbones like opals, like the jeweled bones of the earth itself. Remember man, that thou art dust.…

 

Starz, episode 301 The Battle Joined

BREE: (Dragonfly in Amber book)

“How long … did you hate me?”

Gold eyes met blue ones, innocent and ruthless as the eyes of a falcon. “Until you were born. When I held you and nursed you and saw you look up at me with your father’s eyes.”

…“And then I began to know you, something separate from myself or from Jamie. And I loved you for yourself, and not only for the man who fathered you.”

 

Starz, episode 304 Of Lost Things

Willie: (Voyager book)

He swallowed, and saw the reflection’s throat move. It was by no means a complete resemblance, but it was definitely there. More in the set and shape of the head and shoulders, as Lady Grozier had observed—but most definitely the eyes as well. Fraser eyes; his father, Brian, had had them, and his sister, Jenny, as well. Let the boy’s bones go on pressing through his skin; let the child-snub nose grow long and straight, and the cheekbones still broader—and anyone would be able to see it

 

Father that he is, Jamie has the courage to protect his children by doing what must be done. And, suffers a father’s grief over the loss of his children! Will he ever see his beloved offspring again?

Starz, episode 304 Of Lost Things

 

Haiku to Father James

Leaving his children.

Trust in another’s keeping –

Will it ever end?

 

A deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FF Laryngeal Prominence

 

fun fact, image of jamie fraser's neck

Anatomy def: Throat bulge created by the laryngeal prominence, a hillock of cartilage belonging to laryngeal cartilages. Typically, larger in post-pubescent males than in females.

Outlander def: Most folks ken the laryngeal prominence as the Adam’s apple, a firm mound most visible with neck extended and head thrown back. Some are prominent enough to reflect light! <G>

Learn about the laryngeal prominence in Anatomy Lesson #42, The Voice – No, not that One! Nine cartilages comprise the larynx or voice box; the laryngeal prominence belongs to the thyroid cartilage, the largest of these nine!

Read about the laryngeal prominence in Diana’s third big book, Voyager. Here, Fergus’ Adam’s apple bobs precariously in his slender throat!

It was a savoury made of goat’s meat and bacon, and he saw Fergus’s prominent Adam’s apple bob in the slender throat at the smell of it. He knew they saved the best of the food for him; it didn’t take much looking at the pinched faces across the table.

See Jamie’s very prominent laryngeal prominence as his head drops back in Season 3, Episode 1 The Battle Joined. “Are ye alive?” Barely! “Let me be!” But, Rupert is having none of that. He willna leave Jamie to die alone in the freezing moor mud, even if the lad did dirk daring Dougal!

A deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

Fun Fact: platysma

Dougal Mackenzie making a fierce face and on the battlefield used in a fun fact on Outlander Anatomy about platysma.

Anatomy def: Platysma is a thin, flat superficial sheet of muscle fibers extending from each clavicle (collar bone), up the neck, and ending near the angles of the mandible (lower jaw).

Outlander def: Aka, the grimacing muscles, platysmata (pl.) participate in a grimace: facial contortion due to strain, terror, disgust, pain, or wry amusement wherein strands of platysma web the neck skin! Weightlifters sometimes injury the platysmata as grimace with extraordinary effort.

See Dougal exhibit splendid radiating webs of platysma as he and his band of hairy lads demonstrate a heiland charge! Oh, a bit of Angus’ platysma, also gets into the act! Diana offers a picturesque description of Dougal’s charge (Dragonfly in Amber book):

Scottish clansmen fought according to their ancient traditions. Disdaining strategy, tactics, and subtlety, their method of attack was simplicity itself. Spotting the enemy within range, they dropped their plaids, drew their swords, and charged the foe, shrieking at the tops of their lungs. Gaelic shrieking being what it is, this method was more often successful than not. A good many enemies, seeing a mass of hairy, bare-limbed banshees bearing down on them, simply lost all nerve and fled.

Head for the hills! The Heiland Hills, that is! <G>

Learn about the platysma in Anatomy Lesson #11, Jamie’s Face or Ye do it Face to Face? and Anatomy Lesson #12, Claire’s Neck or The Ivory Tower.

Read about grimaces in Dragonfly in Amber book. The platysmata help create Jamie’s grimace:

“Haven’t you got any nerves?” I demanded of him. He grimaced at me in the mirror and put his hands over his stomach. “Aye, I have. But it takes me in the belly, not the hands. Have ye some of that stuff for cramp?”

And for Claire. Yep, she is contracting her platysmata too!

Obviously, I was going to need Jamie’s help. I grimaced at the thought of what he was likely to say about it.

Claire Fraser making a face used in a fun fact on Outlander Anatomy about platysma.

See Dougal’s platysmata fully activated in Starz episode 209, Je Suis Prest, and Claire’s as she fights the effects of Colum’s fortified rhenish in Starz episode 103, The Way Out. Hic!

A deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist