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].
This guide covers the essentials of 1952 groundbreaking novel, The Price of Salt (also known as Carol ). 1. Context & Significance The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith
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
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 Themes to Explore Highsmith based the character of
Much of the tension arises from the disparity between Therese’s working-class struggle and Carol’s mid-century luxury [1].
The road trip represents a temporary utopia that is eventually shattered by the legal realities of 1950s society [6]. 5. Essential Reading/Viewing
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].