There was nothing frightening about the dead man; there never is. No matter how ugly the manner in which a man dies, it's only the presence of a suffering human soul that is horrifying; once gone, what is left is only an object
The quote reflects on the nature of death, suggesting that the fear associated with a deceased person stems not from the body itself, but from the suffering that occurred during life. It emphasizes that the essence of fear lies in the experience of living souls, and once that essence has departed, what remains is merely a lifeless form, devoid of the emotions that made it unsettling.
This perspective invites readers to reconsider their views on mortality and the human condition. It highlights the transformation from life to death, where the tragic experiences of a person are what instill fear, while death itself renders them an object, thereby stripping away that fear. This motif appears throughout 'Outlander,' urging a deeper understanding of life and loss.