# Sven Hanson — Sister Carrie character guide

> Sven Hanson in Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Hanson, Mr. Hanson

**First appearance:** 0000-i-the-magnet-attracting-a-waif-amid-forces

## Who they are

Minnie's stern and frugal husband who disapproves of Carrie.

## In the story

### [II: What Poverty Threatened: Of Granite and Brass](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sister_carrie_se/chapters/ii-what-poverty-threatened-of-granite-and-brass)

Minnie's husband, a silent, American-born man of Swedish descent who works at the stockyards and is indifferent to Carrie's presence, focused on saving for a house.

### [IV: The Spendings of Fancy: Facts Answer with Sneers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sister_carrie_se/chapters/iv-the-spendings-of-fancy-facts-answer-with-sneers)

Hanson's taciturn and frugal demeanor dominates the flat; he shows mild interest in Carrie's job but disapproves of any expenditure for pleasure, reinforcing the household's oppressive atmosphere.

### [VI: The Machine and the Maiden: A Knight of Today](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sister_carrie_se/chapters/vi-the-machine-and-the-maiden-a-knight-of-today)

Hanson is cold and practical, viewing Carrie's job as a necessity and disapproving of her desire for independence or leisure.

### [VII: The Lure of the Material: Beauty Speaks for Itself](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sister_carrie_se/chapters/vii-the-lure-of-the-material-beauty-speaks-for-itself)

Indirectly influences the situation through Minnie's relay of his opinion that Carrie should leave Chicago for the winter.

### [Intimations by Winter: An Ambassador Summoned](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sister_carrie_se/chapters/viii-intimations-by-winter-an-ambassador-summoned)

Hanson is briefly mentioned waking Minnie from her nightmare, showing his practical, unsympathetic demeanor.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sister_carrie_se/characters/sven_hanson
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sister_carrie_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sister_carrie_se/characters