Carol’s former lover and loyal friend, who serves as a bridge between Carol’s past and present. 4. Themes to Explore
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]. 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]. Carol’s former lover and loyal friend, who serves
Highsmith based the character of Carol on a blonde woman in a mink coat she saw while working at Bloomingdale’s during the 1948 Christmas rush [2, 5]. 2. Plot Summary It is widely praised for capturing the novel's
Sophisticated, wealthy, and burdened by the social expectations of her class. She must choose between her daughter and her authentic self.
Much of the tension arises from the disparity between Therese’s working-class struggle and Carol’s mid-century luxury [1].
Originally published under the pseudonym Claire Morgan because Highsmith’s publishers feared being associated with "lesbian fiction" [1, 2].
