So Big · Chapter
XVI explained
Selina DeJong, now middle-aged and living a simple life on her farm, contrasts her own plain appearance and habits with the elaborate beauty routines of her friend Julie Arnold.
What happens
Selina DeJong, now middle-aged and living a simple life on her farm, contrasts her own plain appearance and habits with the elaborate beauty routines of her friend Julie Arnold. Julie warns Selina that Dirk and Paula are spending too much time together and that people are talking. Selina confronts Dirk during a rare visit, expressing her disappointment that he has abandoned architecture for bond-selling and is becoming known as 'gilded youth.' Dirk defends his success and new lifestyle, while Selina mourns the loss of his creative dreams.
Themes in this chapter
Ambition and Self-Fulfillment
Selina laments Dirk's abandonment of architecture for bond-selling, contrasting his creative ambition with his current pursuit of financial success.
The American Dream and Disillusionment
Dirk's rise as a successful bond salesman represents a version of the American Dream, but Selina sees it as a hollow pursuit compared to the creative fulfillment of architecture.
Gender Roles and Independence
Selina's simple, unadorned appearance and her refusal to use cosmetics contrast with Julie's elaborate beauty routine, highlighting different expressions of femininity and independence.
Characters to notice
- Selina DeJong
Selina is now a middle-aged woman living simply on the farm, with weather-beaten skin and few personal belongings. She confronts Dirk about his lifestyle and his abandonment of architecture.
- Dirk DeJong
Dirk has become a successful bond salesman in Chicago, acquiring a new manner of assurance. He defends his career to Selina and is involved with Paula Storm.
- Julie Hempel
Julie Arnold, now living in a new house in Chicago, warns Selina about Dirk and Paula's relationship and discusses her own elaborate beauty regimen.
- Pauline
Paula Storm is mentioned as being 'insane about Dirk' and spending too much time with him, though she refuses to divorce her husband Theodore Storm.
- August Hempel
Old Aug Hempel is mentioned as a member of the Noon Club, one of the 'big men' of Chicago's financial circle, who smokes cheap light panatellas.
- Theodore A. Storm
Theodore Storm is Paula's husband, mentioned in the context of Paula's refusal to divorce him due to financial reasons.
Key passages
“I don’t see how you do it! Your eyes are as bright as a baby’s and mine look like dead oysters.”
Julie Arnold marvels at Selina's youthful eyes, comparing them to her own tired-looking ones.
Julie comments on Selina's seemingly ageless vitality despite her simple lifestyle.
“Dirk, I don’t want you to be a gilded youth, I don’t care how thick the gilding. Dirk, that isn’t what I worked in the sun and cold for.”
Selina tells Dirk that she did not endure hard labor on the farm so that he could become a frivolous socialite.
Selina expresses her disappointment that Dirk has become known as one of the 'jeunesse dorée' rather than pursuing a meaningful career.
“Selling bonds that make that building possible isn’t so dull, either.”
Dirk defends his bond-selling job by arguing that it enables construction projects.
Dirk tries to justify his career change to Selina, who dismisses it as less fulfilling than architecture.