Of Mice and Men

by

John Steinbeck

Carlson Character Analysis

A laborer on the ranch. Carlson is an aggressive man who owns a Luger pistol which he prizes and cherishes. He leaps at any opportunity to use his gun, including when he shoots Candy’s old dog and offers to try to shoot Lennie after he kills Curley’s wife. A dimwitted man with little empathy or capacity for self-reflection, Carlson often acts as a flunkey to Curley.

Carlson Quotes in Of Mice and Men

The Of Mice and Men quotes below are all either spoken by Carlson or refer to Carlson. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Broken Plans Theme Icon
).
Part 3 Quotes

“Carl's right, Candy. That dog ain't no good to himself. I wisht somebody'd shoot me if I got old an' a cripple.”

Related Characters: Slim (speaker), Candy, Carlson
Related Symbols: Candy’s Dog
Page Number: 45
Explanation and Analysis:

“Maybe it’d hurt him,” [Candy] suggested. “I don’t mind takin’ care of him.”

Carlson said, “The way I’d shoot him, he wouldn’t feel nothing. I’d put the gun right there.” He pointed with his toe. “Right back of the head. He wouldn’t even quiver.”

Related Characters: Candy (speaker), Carlson (speaker)
Related Symbols: Candy’s Dog
Page Number: 45
Explanation and Analysis:
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Carlson Quotes in Of Mice and Men

The Of Mice and Men quotes below are all either spoken by Carlson or refer to Carlson. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Broken Plans Theme Icon
).
Part 3 Quotes

“Carl's right, Candy. That dog ain't no good to himself. I wisht somebody'd shoot me if I got old an' a cripple.”

Related Characters: Slim (speaker), Candy, Carlson
Related Symbols: Candy’s Dog
Page Number: 45
Explanation and Analysis:

“Maybe it’d hurt him,” [Candy] suggested. “I don’t mind takin’ care of him.”

Carlson said, “The way I’d shoot him, he wouldn’t feel nothing. I’d put the gun right there.” He pointed with his toe. “Right back of the head. He wouldn’t even quiver.”

Related Characters: Candy (speaker), Carlson (speaker)
Related Symbols: Candy’s Dog
Page Number: 45
Explanation and Analysis: