Outlander Book Club: Drums of Autumn Chapter 56 breakdown

Just the Outlander chapter

When Roger wakes, Father Alexandre is on the other side of the hut. Alexandre is naked and not covered in a blanket, but he says he doesn’t feel the cold. That doesn’t stop Roger from covering the man up for comfort.

Alexandre asks for Roger to hear his confession. It doesn’t matter that Roger isn’t a priest. Anyone can hear a man’s last confession, and Alexandre believes that this will be his last chance to confess his sins. Roger agrees to hear the confession.

The first sin is pride. Alexandre explains how he converted some of the Mohawks, and he was proud of being able to do that. This is a sin he wants to absolve.

The second sin is falling in love with one of the tribe women and having a child with her. This is why he’s now being condemned to death. He refuses to baptize the child, despite the Mohawk expecting it. The Mohawk see it as a ceremony and they don’t understand why Alexandre can’t do it. He can only baptize if both parents are in good standing, and he is not.

However, he realizes that the confession is no good. God will not forgive his sins because he isn’t really repentant for them. He doesn’t regret his actions. He loves this woman and his child.