Carlson

Carlson is more of a "flat" character than a "round" one (If you don't remember: at the beginning of our first year, we talked about different types of characters. There were round = usually major, important characters where we see a lot of different facets and flat = usually minor, secondary characters with one particular character trait). He doesn't really play a central role in the book and therefore he doesn't appear a lot. I found precisely four scenes where Carlson played a part . Not the best circumstances to write a 1 1/2 pages long essay about him, right? Just kidding, I decided by myself to write about him, because after finishing the book, I saw Carlson only as a ruthless dork and I was kinda interested in if there is more behind this guy. Due to the lack of information in the book, my text is mainly based on these few scenes where Carlson plays a role, and a lot of interpretation from my point of view.

The first time we meet Carlson in the book is when George and Lennie just arrived at the ranch and were talking with Slim. Carlson asked Slim if he could give one of his puppies to Candy because the dog Candy had right then was really old and stank, he also wanted Slim to convince Candy to shoot the old dog. Not a nice first impression, right? This scene shows that he hates that dog and tries everything to get rid of it, only because it stinks. This is a very egoistic and ruthless behaviour.

The second time we meet Carlson is when the dog gets shot. He talked so long to Candy until the old man gave up and had to agree to kill his dog. When Candy told him he couldn't shoot it, Carlson offers to shoot the dog by himself. To reach his goal, he would do everything. He doesn't understand the relationship between Candy and his dog, he doesn't understand Candys emotions, he just carries his own point.
Carlson got his Luger, a pistol and probably his most precious property and dragged the poor dog out of the barn. At least he promised Candy: "It won't feel anything". But if he really meant it that way, or if that was just an empty promise to calm Candy down a bit, we don't know.
When Carlson dragged the dog out, Slim even had to remind him to take a shovel with. I'm asking me if Carlson really planned to just shoot the dog and let its dead body lying on floor. He didn't plan it through, he just wanted to get rid of his object of hate as soon as possible.

In the very last scene of the book where George killed Lennie, Carlson appears once again and we get another impression of this guy. George just shot his friend Lennie in the head and of course feels horrible right after. But Carlson, he doesn't care at all. He just asked George if Lennie really had his precious gun, "Did he have my gun?".
And when Slim took George away to help him to get over the incident, Carlson was standing, not comprehending anything and said to Curley, who also didn't understand anything: "Now what the hell ya suppose is eatin' them two guys?"

He totally doesn't get Georges emotional state and how he feels. It seems like he never had a friend, has always been alone and never felt friendship. Carlson is a perfect example for what being a lonley worker in California turns you into. A cold-hearted and emotionally blunted.

I hope I could give you an impression of Carlson,
My-Nhien