OMAM Section 2

I actually noticed Carlson more than the other people. He is described as a powerful, big-stomached man. When he first appeared in the story, he seemed to me as one of the minor people in the story, but still struck me as a somewhat mysterious and neutral person. For one, he first comes into the bunk room and stares. When someone first meets you and stares at you, it isn't comfortable. Imagine that, a powerful, big-stomached man meets you for the first time and stares at you. It doesn't seem very polite, but later he kindly says," Glad ta meet ya. My name's Carlson." Yet later, when introduced to Lennie and George's name, he kind of playfully teases Lennie for his name. He says that Lennie isn't really small even though his name is Lennie Small. Then he chuckles softly at his joke. He seems to get along well with Slim, though, so that's not bad because Slim is a good person. 

Carlson's actions and words don't quite match. His words are nice, but his first action of staring at them made him look suspicious of something. Then again, it is also rare back then for two people to be traveling and caring for each other. Even further, it is ironic that the big guy is submissive and listens to the smaller guy. The fact that the bigger guy is childish and the smaller guy is sharp and doesn't stare cowardly at the big guy. George, the smaller guy, gives orders and reprimands Lennie for forgetting. I feel that seeing this, Carlson is surprised and doesn't really know how to mask it. Would you stare at George and Lennie if it was strange in that time period? Which side do you think Carlson is on?

Just to answer my last question, I feel that Carlson is on the side of Lennie and George. He only does something rude at the beginning from, most likely being surprised. Then tries to cover up for that by making a joke. If Carlson is capable of being friendly and being friends with Slim, I think he would be capable of being a nice person. Really it could go either way.