Selina Peake De Jong (played by Barbara Stanwyck) is a protagonist in So Big!.
After her mother's death, Selina moves to Chicago with her father, Simeon, and later becomes a teacher in a small Dutch community. She marries Pervus and raises their son, Dirk, while struggling to keep the farm afloat after Pervus dies so she can finance Dirk's education. Her influence also helps shape Roelf, her former pupil. Adult Roelf Pool (played by George Brent) appears in So Big!.
Roelf is the Pool family's son, whom Selina tutors when she lives with the family and works as a schoolteacher. As an adult he becomes a renowned sculptor. After meeting Dirk and learning that Selina is his mother, he reunites with his former tutor, giving her reason to feel that her influence helped shape his character. Young Dirk De Jong (played by Dickie Moore) appears in So Big!.
Young Dirk is Selina and Pervus De Jong's son, nicknamed “So Big.” He becomes the primary focus of Selina's life, and she works to keep the family farm afloat so she can afford his education. She hopes he will grow up to become an architect, a hope that informs her sacrifices for him. Miss Dallas O'Mara (played by Bette Davis) appears in So Big!.
Dallas O'Mara is an unconventional artist whom Dirk meets and falls in love with. Although she returns his romantic interest, she refuses to marry him because she considers him lacking in ambition. Her refusal exposes a difference between Dirk's choices and the aspirations Selina had for her son. Pervus De Jong (played by Earle Foxe) appears in So Big!.
Pervus is an immigrant farmer whom Selina marries. They have a son, Dirk, whom Selina nicknames “So Big.” After Pervus dies, Selina struggles to keep their farm operating so she can pay for Dirk's education, making his death a turning point in her life and in her efforts to support their son. Simeon Peake (played by Robert Warwick) appears in So Big!.
Simeon is Selina's father. After Selina's mother dies, he moves with her to Chicago, where she enrolls in finishing school. Simeon is later killed, leaving Selina penniless and prompting her friend Julie to help her find work as a teacher in a small Dutch community.
So Big! (1932) character relationship network mapped with AI analysis. Explore the connections, alliances, and conflicts between characters.
Characters
Selina Peake De Jong
(played by Barbara Stanwyck) — protagonist
After her mother's death, Selina moves to Chicago with her father, Simeon, and later becomes a teacher in a small Dutch community. She marries Pervus and raises their son, Dirk, while struggling to ke...
Adult Roelf Pool
(played by George Brent) — supporting
Roelf is the Pool family's son, whom Selina tutors when she lives with the family and works as a schoolteacher. As an adult he becomes a renowned sculptor. After meeting Dirk and learning that Selina...
Young Dirk De Jong
(played by Dickie Moore) — supporting
Young Dirk is Selina and Pervus De Jong's son, nicknamed “So Big.” He becomes the primary focus of Selina's life, and she works to keep the family farm afloat so she can afford his education. She hope...
Miss Dallas O'Mara
(played by Bette Davis) — supporting
Dallas O'Mara is an unconventional artist whom Dirk meets and falls in love with. Although she returns his romantic interest, she refuses to marry him because she considers him lacking in ambition. He...
Pervus De Jong
(played by Earle Foxe) — supporting
Pervus is an immigrant farmer whom Selina marries. They have a son, Dirk, whom Selina nicknames “So Big.” After Pervus dies, Selina struggles to keep their farm operating so she can pay for Dirk's edu...
Simeon Peake
(played by Robert Warwick) — supporting
Simeon is Selina's father. After Selina's mother dies, he moves with her to Chicago, where she enrolls in finishing school. Simeon is later killed, leaving Selina penniless and prompting her friend Ju...
Canonical Relationships
Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.
Young Dirk De Jong → Miss Dallas O'Mara
(Romantic Interest)
Pervus De Jong → Young Dirk De Jong
(Family Father)
Selina Peake De Jong → Young Dirk De Jong
(Family Mother)
Selina Peake De Jong → Pervus De Jong
(Family Husband)
Selina Peake De Jong → Adult Roelf Pool
(Professional Tutor)
Selina Peake De Jong → Simeon Peake
(Family Father)
Story Dynamics
Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.
Adult Roelf Pool → Young Dirk De Jong
(Social Acquaintance)
Story Analysis
The story follows a woman's endurance, sacrifices, and changing hopes across family loss, rural hardship, and the uncertain future of her son.
