So Big · Character

August Hempel

Julie's wealthy and domineering father, a Chicago business magnate.

minor

Also known as Hempel, old August Hempel, Aug, Old Aug Hempel

First appearance: I

August Hempel's tie to Selina DeJong is one of the pressures that moves So Big—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.

Julie's father, a Clark Street butcher who later becomes a packer.

In the storyIOpen this moment free

See August Hempel in I Book page

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With Selina DeJong (social): A respectful acquaintance tinged with August's admiration for Selina's resilience and business acumen. With Julie Hempel (family): Father and daughter in a formal, affectionate relationship…

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The fuller portrait of August Hempel sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See August Hempel in I

Character Web

14 connections

A slice of how August Hempel sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Social
Family
Other

Character groups

Chicago Elite Circle
Protagonist
Extended Cast of Characters

+9 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This excerpt marks the dramatic climax because it reveals the central psychological crisis: Selina’s entire id…

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Relationships

Selina DeJong
social · positive
A respectful acquaintance tinged with August's admiration for Selina's resilience and… How this plays out →
Julie Hempel
family · positive
Selina DeJong
social · positive
A respectful acquaintance tinged with August's admiration for Selina's resilience and… How this plays out →
Julie Hempel
family · positive
Julie Hempel
family · positive

Selina DeJong
A respectful acquaintance tinged with August's admiration for Selina's resilience and business acumen.
Julie Hempel
Father and daughter in a formal, affectionate relationship with August indulging Julie's social ambitions.
Selina DeJong
A respectful acquaintance tinged with August's admiration for Selina's resilience and business acumen.
Julie Hempel
Father and daughter in a formal, affectionate relationship with August indulging Julie's social ambitions.
Julie Hempel
Father and daughter in a formal, affectionate relationship with August indulging Julie's social ambitions.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See August Hempel in I

In the story

August Hempel appears across 6 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

I
Julie's father, a Clark Street butcher who later becomes a packer.
II
Arranges Selina's teaching position at High Prairie; a shrewd butcher and future packing magnate.
XII
Visits the farm, assesses the land, and advises Selina that people must make their own mistakes.
XV
Mentioned as having lived in Chicago for over half a century but never explored it; also noted as refusing to visit Stormwood.
XVI
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.
XIX
Visits Selina at the farm, and they share snickering remarks about the North Shore crowd.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for August Hempel unlock in the free preview.

See August Hempel in I