Who James MacGregor is
James MacGregor matters to the story through his place in Catriona Drummond's life as her father. His troubles connect her to the unsettled world of prisons and political influence surrounding David Balfour.
Through that burden, family duty becomes part of a story also concerned with honesty, power, and love.
James MacGregor and the others in the story
Catriona remains devoted to James MacGregor even as her love for David grows. Her attachment to her father creates a claim that David cannot simply brush aside.
David's admiration for Catriona does not mean that he understands the loyalties shaping her choices. James MacGregor's importance lies in this pressure on their courtship, where affection alone cannot settle competing duties.
Questions
Who is James MacGregor in Catriona?
James MacGregor is the father of Catriona Drummond, the woman David Balfour loves.
How does James MacGregor affect Catriona?
His troubles and demands place a heavy burden on her loyalty. She is torn between devotion to her father and growing love for David.
How does James MacGregor affect David's courtship?
Catriona's attachment to James MacGregor is a family claim David must take seriously. It adds to the challenge of understanding the woman he loves.