Why Frank wasn’t selfish for not considering adoption in Outlander Book 1

Frank’s words about not adopting in Outlander Book 1 weren’t selfish

Something I forgot had taken place during Outlander Book 1 was talk of adoption. Claire brought up the conversation, which Frank quickly put an end to. He admitted that some would call him selfish, but he couldn’t adopt.

However, his words and feelings weren’t exactly selfish. In fact, he didn’t completely rule out the discussion. He just ruled it out for now. At one point, he even says that in the future he may reconsider his thoughts. And we know eventually he does. After all, Brianna wasn’t his biological child but he raised her as if she was.

There are a number of factors to consider before calling Frank selfish about being unwilling to adopt. I’ll share them now, as I state my reasons for calling him unselfish in this moment.

If you need a reminder of this, it comes up during the second chapter of the novel. I touched on it during the foreshadowing section of the Outlander Book Club post.

Children need parents who love them

Let’s start with the fact that Frank shares that he doesn’t think he could love a child that wasn’t biologically his. He does admit that he may revisit it in the future, but he wants a child that he knows is his own. He wants to see that child grow in Claire’s belly. It’s important to him to know that the child is definitely his.

A child deserves parents who will love him or her. If Frank is unwilling to love an adopted child unconditionally, it would be selfish to bring that child into the family. A child would know they were unloved and unwanted, and that would be one of the worst feelings in the world.

Even with a loving mother like Claire, the idea of a father not loving the child is awful. Frank isn’t just thinking of himself but this adopted child at the same time.

It’s still early to talk about adoption

Claire brings up the discussion because Roger is on her mind. Reverend Wakefield took in his nephew, adopting him as his own child after Roger’s parents died. This is the thing that makes Claire consider adoption.

However, in Frank’s mind, it’s too early to consider this. Claire fears that they may never have children, but in Frank’s eyes, they haven’t been trying for that long. And in reality, they haven’t.

We don’t get a clear view just of how long they were together before the war or how long they’d been trying for a family. It couldn’t have been more than a couple of years, though. They were then separated throughout the war, with getting pregnant being the last thing on their mind. They’d just joined back together, now with a new focus on starting a family.

They say now to try for a year before seeking medical help. It takes time for some to get pregnant, and I can say that from experience. It wasn’t until we stopped stressing and trying to get pregnant that my husband and I were successful. Stress does weird things to a woman’s body.

So, in Frank’s mind, there was nothing to make them think that they couldn’t have children. There was no reason to even consider adoption.

He never completed ruled it out during Outlander Book 1

Before we say that he is selfish for saying an outright “no,” he actually said “not right now.” He made it clear that in a few years, he might reconsider. At first, he wanted to try for their own child.

We have to consider the time period. Adoption wasn’t one of the main routes to consider having a child. There was still a stigma on women who couldn’t have their own children. The idea of adopting may have made Frank feel less of a man; someone that others would judge.

It’s awful to think like that, but we have to look at this conversation with a 1940s point of view. It’s important to consider the social expectations and stigmas of the time. Frank was a man of his time; there’s no doubt about that.

He never completely ruled it out, though. When it came to it, Frank was able to love a child that wasn’t biologically his as his own. Brianna never even knew the difference until she was told Frank wasn’t her biological father.

What did you think of Frank’s conversation about adoption? Was it a selfish view? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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