Outlander Book Club: The Fiery Cross Chapter 101 breakdown

Jamie discusses Stephen Bonnet and whether he’s a man or a monster in Outlander Book 5, Chapter 101

We get to another very short chapter in Outlander Book 5. It’s focused on the Frasers and MacKenzies heading to Wylie’s Landing to meet with Stephen Bonnet.

The chapter itself didn’t feel all that important. It is a short one that really just focuses on the perception of Bonnet. His smuggling trips were profitable, but he wasn’t a nice captain. He didn’t instil loyalty from those working for him, and that leads to a conversation about whether he’s a man or a monster.

Is there any point in thinking of him as a monster? And then what’s the line between monsters and heroes?

The chapter is great for pushing into the next one. It gives us an insight into how different people view this same person. The Frasers and MacKenzies hate him, but how do they view him as a person or even as a monster. That’s something Roger thinks about in the following chapter, so the in book, this chapter served a purpose.

It wasn’t really used in the series, though. This whole section was condensed considerably and combined with a storyline from A Breath of Snow and Ashes. I’ll get to my thoughts on that in the adaptation section.

Let’s dive into The Fiery Cross Chapter 101.