# Casper Gutman — The Maltese Falcon character guide

> Casper Gutman in The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Mr. Gutman, Gutman, Rhea Gutman

**First appearance:** 0012-xi-the-fat-man

## Snapshot

A vast, courteous schemer who has chased the Maltese Falcon for seventeen years, he talks of the bird like a man describing a lost love.

## Who they are

Gutman holds court from a padded rocking chair, purring out confessions and flattery while his boy Wilmer does the ugly work. He is candid, almost genial, about murder and betrayal—and utterly single-minded about the black bird, which he has pursued across continents and decades. His willingness to explain his own crimes to Spade makes him the book's most seductive monster and its chief source of truth about the falcon's history.

## Relationships

### [Sam Spade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/characters/sam_spade)

_rivalry_

A cunning, manipulative adversary who treats Spade as a dangerous obstacle in his quest for the Maltese Falcon, with a veneer of politeness.

### [Wilmer Cook](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/characters/wilmer_cook)

_psychological_

A manipulative master-servant relationship where Gutman uses Wilmer as a disposable henchman, showing no loyalty or care for his safety.

### [Joel Cairo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/characters/joel_cairo)

_rivalry_

A tense alliance of convenience, with both men scheming for the falcon and distrusting each other despite occasional cooperation.

### [Sam Spade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/characters/sam_spade)

_rivalry_

A cunning, manipulative adversary who treats Spade as a dangerous obstacle in his quest for the Maltese Falcon, with a veneer of politeness.

### [Sam Spade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/characters/sam_spade)

_rivalry_

A cunning, manipulative adversary who treats Spade as a dangerous obstacle in his quest for the Maltese Falcon, with a veneer of politeness.

### [Wilmer Cook](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/characters/wilmer_cook)

_psychological_

A manipulative master-servant relationship where Gutman uses Wilmer as a disposable henchman, showing no loyalty or care for his safety.

### [Joel Cairo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/characters/joel_cairo)

_rivalry_

A tense alliance of convenience, with both men scheming for the falcon and distrusting each other despite occasional cooperation.

### [Wilmer Cook](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/characters/wilmer_cook)

_psychological_

A manipulative master-servant relationship where Gutman uses Wilmer as a disposable henchman, showing no loyalty or care for his safety.

### [Joel Cairo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/characters/joel_cairo)

_rivalry_

A tense alliance of convenience, with both men scheming for the falcon and distrusting each other despite occasional cooperation.

## In the story

### [The Maltese Falcon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/the-maltese-falcon)

The corpulent mastermind behind the search for the Maltese Falcon, who manipulates others to achieve his goal.

### [The Fat Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/xi-the-fat-man)

The fat man who meets Spade at the Alexandria Hotel; he claims to be the only one who knows the true nature of the falcon.

### [XIII: The Emperor's Gift](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/xiii-the-emperor-s-gift)

Hosts Spade, narrates the falcon's provenance from the Knights of Malta through centuries of theft and intrigue, and expresses his determination to possess it.

### [XIV: La Paloma](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/xiv-la-paloma)

Mentioned as having sent a message to Spade; his party is staying at the Alexandria Hotel.

### [XVII: Saturday Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/xvii-saturday-night)

Gutman ambushes Spade and Brigid at Spade's apartment.

### [The Fall-Guy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/xviii-the-fall-guy)

Initially resists Spade's plan but ultimately agrees after Spade threatens to turn everyone in; helps restrain Wilmer.

### [XIX: The Russian's Hand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/xix-the-russian-s-hand)

Calmly negotiates with Spade, recounts the pursuit of Brigid and Jacobi, and warns Spade about Brigid.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/characters/casper_gutman
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/characters