This guide covers the essentials of 1952 groundbreaking novel, The Price of Salt (also known as Carol ). 1. Context & Significance
The story follows , a stage designer working a temporary job at a department store. She becomes infatuated with Carol Aird , an elegant suburban mother undergoing a difficult divorce. Their relationship develops during a cross-country road trip, but they are pursued by a private investigator hired by Carol’s husband to gather evidence of her "moral turpitude" to win a custody battle [1, 6]. 3. Key Characters
It was revolutionary for its time because it defied the "tragic lesbian" trope of the 1950s, where queer characters were typically punished, killed, or "cured" by the final page [3, 4]. The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith
Highsmith focuses heavily on how Therese watches Carol—the obsession with details like gloves, perfume, and cigarettes [5].
Much of the tension arises from the disparity between Therese’s working-class struggle and Carol’s mid-century luxury [1]. This guide covers the essentials of 1952 groundbreaking
Originally published under the pseudonym Claire Morgan because Highsmith’s publishers feared being associated with "lesbian fiction" [1, 2].
Sophisticated, wealthy, and burdened by the social expectations of her class. She must choose between her daughter and her authentic self. She becomes infatuated with Carol Aird , an
Watch the 2015 adaptation, Carol , directed by Todd Haynes, starring Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett. It is widely praised for capturing the novel's atmospheric tension [7].