# Luella Hemple — Short Fiction character guide

> Luella Hemple in Short Fiction by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Luella

**First appearance:** 0057-i

## Snapshot

A beautiful young wife whose household is collapsing around her, Luella discovers that charm and a good name buy nothing when the servants walk out and her husband lies helpless upstairs.

## Who they are

With a sick baby, an invalid husband, and a kitchen she has never learned to use, Luella confronts the agencies and doctors who once seemed to exist for her convenience. Her frantic call — 'I'm Mrs. Charles Hemple!' — lands on a world that no longer answers. Her helplessness is both comic and terrifying, and it sets the story's quiet reckoning with what a woman is worth when the men who defined her fall away.

## Relationships

### [Charles Hemple](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/characters/charles_hemple)

_family_

Charles and Luella are a married couple, and their relationship is defined by domestic tension and Luella's controlling nature.

### [Charles Hemple](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/characters/charles_hemple)

_family_

Charles and Luella are a married couple, and their relationship is defined by domestic tension and Luella's controlling nature.

## In the story

### [The Adjuster](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/the-adjuster)

The young wife who becomes restless and dissatisfied after recovering from an illness, leading her to flirt with another man.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/i)

Confides in Ede about her marital unhappiness, boredom with motherhood, and frustration with Charles.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/ii)

The protagonist of the chapter, Luella is a wealthy young wife and mother who feels stifled by her domestic life and longs for excitement. She is irritated by her husband's nervous habits and resents the intrusion of Doctor Moon.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/iii)

Forced to care for her husband and baby; struggles with household duties and resents her situation.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/iv)

Grieving the death of her baby Chuck, she contemplates leaving her husband and starting a new life, but is persuaded by Doctor Moon to stay.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/v)

Luella undergoes a profound change under Doctor Moon's influence, learning to accept responsibility and finding peace after the death of Chuck.

### [The Freshest Boy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/the-freshest-boy)

A girl Basil is infatuated with, representing his romantic aspirations and social desires.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/i)

Not present in this chapter.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/iv)

Mentioned in Basil's thoughts about the show and the characters within it.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/iv)

Not present in this chapter.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/characters/luella_hemple
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/characters