The Price Of Salt By Patricia Highsmith May 2026

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].

Carol’s former lover and loyal friend, who serves as a bridge between Carol’s past and present. 4. Themes to Explore The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith

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 was revolutionary for its time because it

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 Themes to Explore Highsmith based the character of

Originally published under the pseudonym Claire Morgan because Highsmith’s publishers feared being associated with "lesbian fiction" [1, 2].

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 novel, The Price of Salt (also known as Carol ). 1. Context & Significance