Scottish Highlander James Fraser has proven to be quite the fan-favorite on the hit romantic fantasy drama Outlander. From the very beginning, the young Fraser accrued a large fanbase after the viewers witnessed his altruistic and selfless behavior towards Claire and his family. However, these fans would also admit that Jamie has had one of the most heartbreaking arcs too.
If the viewers take a closer look at all the characters, each person has experienced or struggled with trauma. Unfortunately, Jamie's arc has seen the Scottish Highlander put through several awful situations that have deeply affected him in the long run. These instances were just some of the most heartbreaking.
Being In Love With A Time Traveler Can't Be Easy
Jamie is in love with Claire, which might be the whole point of this epic love story but being in love with a time traveler cannot be easy by any means.
It was Jamie who asked Claire to pass through the stones and go back to the 20th century so that their child would be safe. But Claire was away for two decades, the better part of which Jamie had to spend all alone. He then got married to the rather despicable Laoghaire out of loneliness.
His Father Died Heartbroken
Jamie's father Brian died from a stroke after he saw Jamie being flogged nearly to death in Fort William. It makes sense that he could not stand to see his beloved young son suffer so horribly in front of a hundred people.
Jamie's mother had died when he was little, so to lose his father as a result of his own terrible ordeal must have been heartbreaking for the Scottish Highlander.
He Lost A Daughter
Claire was revealed to be pregnant while the couple was gallivanting around Paris, trying to stop the Jacobite Rising from coming to fruition. However, she then had a miscarriage and almost died herself had Master Raymond not saved her life miraculously.
Jamie never got to hold his little daughter, Faith, in his arms the way Claire did as he was locked up at the Bastille for attempting to duel with Black Jack Randall. He only ever learned about Faith from the details Claire gave him.
He Doesn't Live With His Son
Jamie has an illegitimate son, William. His mother had been Geneva Dunsany, the daughter of Lord Dunsany, for whom Jamie had worked as a groom for several years after being released on parole from Ardsmuir Prison. She had raped Jamie and become pregnant with his child but later died in childbirth.
Although Jamie spent a few years mentoring William, he had to leave once people began to see similarities between the two. While Jamie was content in the knowledge that Lord Grey was to become his son's adoptive father, it was naturally painful for him to be away from his son.
Jamie Couldn't Be Around Young Brianna
Just as Jamie cannot be with young William, he couldn't be around Brianna either during her growing up years. As many fans know, Brianna was raised by Claire and Frank Randall in the 20th century after Jamie forced a pregnant Claire to return to the future so that they would be safe.
Although Frank was a wonderful father to Bree, it must have been heartwrenching for Jamie to know that another man was teaching his daughter everything he was going to.
His Best Friend & Godfather Died
Murtagh Fitzgibbons had been in love with Jamie's mother Ellen. And in time he had become Jamie's best friend, confidante, and godfather.
The grumpy but adorable Murtagh had been a raging fan-favorite, so his tragic death after the Battle of Alamance left the audience in tears. It also suffices to say that Jamie was absolutely heartbroken too. In fact, he couldn't even let the fact sink in for a while even though he must have known that Murtagh had already breathed his last.
He Nearly Lost The Use Of His Hand
Jamie Fraser has experienced some terrible trauma in the past. When he was being tortured by the notorious Black Jack Randall at Wentworth Prison, the latter had nailed his already injured hand to the table.
The pain of undergoing such unthinkable brutality must have been immeasurable, and for months after he had recovered, Jamie had to keep his hand bandaged and in a wooden cast so that the fingers would set properly. Even afterward, his fingers remained stiff for a long time making the hand difficult to use.
Jamie Was Flogged More Than Once
Jamie's ordeals included being flogged more than once. The first was when he defended his sister, Jenny, from being assaulted and raped by Randall and his men. Later, he received 200 lashes from the same man and almost died in the process.
The lashes caused deep cuts on the skin on Jamie's back. Even when the lacerations began to bleed profusely, BJR still didn't stop, wanting to break the Scotsman's spirit. The scars from the vicious attack remain on his back always, acting as a constant reminder of his harrowing past.
He Was Raped
After Jamie had been arrested, he was taken to Wentworth Prison, where he was tortured by the Redcoats and Black Jack Randall.
Unfortunately, Jamie underwent further torture and trauma when BJR raped him in exchange for Claire's freedom. For a long time, Jamie was seen to be deeply affected by this horrific moment.
Jamie Is A Wanted Man
Jamie has forever been a wanted man. Ever since he was arrested for putting up a fight against the Redcoats who barged into the property in Lallybroch, he had been on the run from the British army.
After he broke out from Fort William, the British put a price on his head, following which he became the notorious Red Jamie and Dun Bonnet. Even later, when he started his own printing press, he was wanted by the authorities for publishing seditious material against the crown. Not to forget his smuggling business. At this point, it did look as if he was engaging in a life of crime just to fill the void Claire had left.