There is something that is not right concerning Monsieur Forez. From the beginning, the reader can sense something different about him. Claire relates:
. . . The nuns and orderlies seemed a bit in awe of Monsieur Forez; they never chaffed him or exchanged rude jokes, as they did with most of the other volunteer medical help (ch. 14).
Of interest is Fergus’s comment about him when Monsieur Forez offered to drive him and Claire home.
“Madame! I promised the master that I would see you safely home each day, that I would not allow you to associate with undesirable – – ” (ch. 14)
Claire describes Monsieur Forez as a crow.
. . . but Monsieur Forez appeared sunk in thought, slowly circling the patient, sidling back and forth like a large carrion crow, cautious lest the victim not be really dead yet. He did look rather like a crow, I thought, with that prominent beak of a nose, and the smooth black hair that he wore unpowdered, slicked back to a wispy knot at the nape of his neck. His clothes, too, were black and somber, though of good quality – evidently he had a profitable practice outside the Hôpital (ch. 14).
This text is a hint to the traitor’s death, of which Monsieur Forez is knowledgeable. How does the symbolism of a carrion bird or a raptor relate to the traitor’s death? Carrion birds do not necessarily eat dead animals; they can eat animals that are alive too. Monsieur Forez is both. There is the unsettling scene in which Claire discovers what Monsieur Forez does. Claire is unknowingly applying the grease of hanged men on Jamie, and he is perturbed. It is possible to speculate that Monsieur Forez makes his living on dead bodies. For example, bones are used for charms. That would explain his respectable and decent appearance. Jamie even mentions that the fat of hanged men is expensive. Every predator makes an assessment of their prey before hunting it. That is what Monsieur Forez does when Claire first meets him. He is thinking about the best way to amputate a leg without causing death, a scene that establishes a parallel to the traitor’s death: how to make a victim suffer longer without killing him or her. Monsieur Forez excels and takes pride in this skill and calls it “artistry (ch. 23).” Overall, he is a bright person but disturbing and menacing.
When he goes to visit Claire before parting to England, he makes certain comments that are worth analyzing. First, he is willing to carry any messages from Claire to anybody in England related to her, a family member or a friend. Of course, this could be just Forez doing a favor, but it could be that he or somebody else is looking for information about Claire. Master Raymond notifies Claire that her background/identity is a subject of speculation.
“You have been seen in my shop,” he pointed out. “Your background is a mistery. And as your husband noted, my own reputation is somewhat suspect. I do move in . . . circles, shall we say?” – the lipless mouth broadened in a grin – “where a speculation as to your true identity may be taken with undue seriousness. . .” (ch. 20)
The fact that Claire does not have any connections in England may look suspicious.
If this seemed odd to Monsieur Forez, he didn’t show it. He merely nodded, and set down his half-drunk glass of wine.
“I see. It is fortunate indeed that you have friends here, then.” His voice seemed to hold a warning of some kind, . . . (ch. 23)
The passage includes a reference to oddness and strangeness, qualities of the white color associated with Claire. The comment implies that somebody is trying to look for a person close to Claire in England, to hurt. Fortunately, there is no such a person to complicate matters for Jamie and Claire. Did the Duke of Sandringham send Forez to intimidate Jamie? Or was it Louis instead? Or, did Monsieur Forez hear something about Jamie and Claire, and decided to warn them? These questions are all possibilities. However, the fact that he is heading to England implies that he is associated with Sandringham in a way. Furthermore, it is Sandringham who eventually reveals that he wanted to kill Jamie, or harm him by killing Claire. Did Sandringham decide to hurt Claire by capturing somebody close to her?
Monsieur Forez seems to have an appreciation for Claire. However, he does not appear to feel the same for Jamie.
“What is the business that takes you to England, Monsieur?” Jamie said bluntly.
Monsieur Forez turned to him with a faint smile. He cocked his head, eyes bright , and I was struck once more by his resemblance to a large bird. Not a carrior crow at the moment, though, but a raptor, a bird of prey. (ch. 23)
Of note is the fact that Jamie would qualify as a traitor for both the British and the Jacobite sides. First, others see him as somebody close to Prince Charles. In fact, Sandringham eventually reveals that he did not like Jamie’s association with the Prince. At the same, he is also risking his life if he is discovered thwarting the Jacobite cause.
“. . . In fact, should any of the Jacobite lords come to know what I’ve been doing, I expect they’d call it treason, and they’d be right.” (ch. 23)
. . . That pretense was necessary while operating in France. But the same pretense would brand Jamie a traitor, should he ever set foot on English soil.
I had known that, of course, but in my ignorance, had thought that there was little difference being hanged as an outlaw, and executed as a traitor. . . (ch. 23)
Featured image is from Season 2’s opening credits. It was posted on Outlander-Online.com. I hope it is associated with Monsieur Forez.
Sources
Gabaldon, Diana. Dragonfly in Amber. New York: Bantam Dell, 1993. Print.