Outlander Book Club: The Fiery Cross Chapter 21 breakdown

Just the Outlander chapter

The chapter starts with Claire testing Roger’s eyes. Roger comments on how it’s a literate eye chart and not just the standard letters. After Claire comments that there’s nothing wrong with Roger’s vision (even though he can’t see the lower lines that Brianna and Jamie can), Claire realizes that Roger has seen an eye chart before. He’s had his eyes tested in the past.

It turns out Roger was supposed to wear glasses as a child. He kept “losing” them because he didn’t like them. He should have kept them on, though.

Roger has binocular vision. He can see perfectly fine, but his eyes don’t work together. He struggles to see in 3D, even though he doesn’t realize that’s a problem. It’s only when he’s come to shooting at targets that he’s realized there’s a problem. Claire does note that a lack of binocular vision is common, and most birds are like that.

Roger has eyes like a hawk! The statement takes on a whole new meaning.

Naturally, Roger worries a little about providing for his family. How can he do that if he can’t shoot and kill animals? Claire points out that she puts food on the table without that, and if he can catch the white sow, Jamie will be forever grateful.

One thing Roger wants to know is whether it’s genetic. Claire doesn’t really know, but it is possible. Roger wonders whether Jemmy could have binocular vision. If he does, Roger would know for certain that Jemmy is his.

However, he asks for Claire not to mention he’s said that to Brianna. While Bree will know Roger thinks about who Jem’s biological father is, she doesn’t need to know he keeps mentioning it. I love that we get these two sides to him. He’s concerned about Brianna and doesn’t want to hurt her feelings, but at the same time, Jemmy’s parentage plays on his mind. He has claimed Jemmy, but he just wants to be sure biologically.