Background information of novel “The Price Of Salt”
“The Price of Salt” is a novel published by Patricial Highsmith under a pseudonym in 1952. The author is good at writing suspense novels. She published this book under a pseudonym because of in the conservative era of 1952, she did not want to be defined as a lesbian literary writer. T
he loveliness depicted in the book have passed through the centuries, attracting batch after batch of readers. In 2015, it was reproduced into the movie “Carol”.
Evaluation criteria
- Story line (5/5 points)
The story takes place in Manhattan, New York, on Christmas Eve in the 1950s. Carol met Therese who was working at the counter while buying Christmas gifts for his daughter Rindy in a department store. The two fell in love at first sight.
For Therese, Carol’s appearance was appropriately a flash of fire on a cold winter night, bright and warm. And Therese was so attracted to this elegant and knowledgeable mature woman. But Carol was in the process of divorcing her husband. Carol, who was overwhelmed by the divorce and the custody of her daughter, invited Therese to drive out to relax. Carol didn’t expect that her husband hired a private investigator to follow them. The private investigator found that they were actually the lover’s evidence and used this to threaten Carol to completely deprive her of custody of Rindy (New York in the 1950s proved that she likes women and can sue her for mental instability and moral depravity). Then Carol abandoned Therese as a last resort and returned to New York hoping to save the situation. In the end, Carol chose to be with Therese. Therese gave up everything about her for love, gave up her life, gave up her ex Richard, and finally she got a new job as if she was about to start a new life, but she chose Carol again. Carol gave up her family, her social status (of course, she can also open a furniture store with Abby) for love, and even her own children.
The disparity in status between the two is destined to be a bumpy relationship. But because of this, this two-way love is the envy of the world. I was impressed by the complex story line of the novel, so I give 5/5 points.
- Meaningful title of the novel (5/5 points)
It is often written in the recipe that when making cakes and other salted desserts, you must put some in order to bring out the sweet taste. Here is the magical effect of salt. For us, although it is invisible, it can be seen everywhere, as long as there is a hidden meal without it, life will lack the feeling of “right”.
This is the meaning of the title “The Price Of Salt”. In order to pursue the “right” feeling in life, we are keen to grow up freely, in exchange for and like it? Without love, without freedom, without salt, how much fun is there in life?
First, consider what salt has meant throughout history, it was once a very rare commodity for its preservative qualities. In ancient China, mankind tried every means to obtain salt, even not hesitating to start a war. Salt production system is controlled by the government , and its development and changes are related to the national economy and the people’s livelihood. So again, salt is a very valuable commodity in people’s daily life. To Therese, Carol is the salt to her life, vice versa.
Second, from the paragraphs in the book we can know that, before Therese meets Carol, her life lacks passion. She is bored with her life in the shop store, she is bored with her boyfriend and his Europe plan. After she meets Carol, it seems that everything in her life becomes exciting and challenging. However, both of them paid the price for the ‘salt’, for the ‘extreme happiness’. Therese costs her friendship with Richard, Carol sacrifices her child. We can also find the evidence in the paragraph: “In the middle of the block, she opened the door of a coffee shop, but they were playing one of the songs she had heard with Carol everywhere, and she let the door close and walked on. The music lived , but the world was dead. And the song would die one day, she thought, but how would the world come back to life? How would its salt come back?” In this paragraph, salt probably means ‘spirit’ and ‘life force’. “She felt shy with him, yet somehow close, a closeness charged with something she had never felt with Richard. Something suspenseful, that she enjoyed. A little salt, she thought.” The ‘salt’ in this paragraph can be understood as “passion”, or a kind of ambiguous emotion that is uncertain.
Third, there is also a saying that the title is inspired by Lot’s wife (the Biblical story): The narrative of Lot’s wife begins in Genesis 19 after two angels arrived in Sodom, at eventide, and were invited to spend the night at Lot’s home . As dawn was breaking, Lot’s visiting angels urged him to get his family and flee, so as to avoid being caught in the impending disaster for the iniquity of the city. Lot delayed, so the angels took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand and his daughters and brought them out of the city. The command was given, “Flee for your life! Do not look behind you, nor stop anywhere in the Plain; flee to the hills, lest you be swept away.” Lot objected to the idea of fleeing to the hills and requested safe haven at a little town nearby. The request was granted and the town became known as Zoar. Traveling behind her husband, Lot’s wife looked back, and became a pillar of salt.
- Characterization (5/5 points)
The author’s portrayal of the two heroines of the novel are both successful and full.
Therese’s love for Carol is extreme but restrained and possessive, even hoping to end this love at the highest point with death. Therese’s emotions and desires are mixed with admiration, but her behavior is quite restrained. She follows carol without taking a half step beyond the thunder pond.
“She wished the tunnel might cave in and kill them both, that their bodies might be dragged out together.”
– The Price of Salt
Compared to Therese’s impulsive passion, Carol’s feelings are rational.
She understands her situation and needs, she has everything to do and is perfect for everyone. Despite this, she fell in love with Therese during the critical period of divorce. Therese is like a flower in her life, giving her too much happiness and support. She needs Therese just as Therese needs her.
- Happy ending (4/5 points)
This is probably a happy ending for the same sex that is relatively rare even today, and it may also be an earlier happy ending for two women in European and American literature. For me, I don’t believe that a happy ending could be achieved at that time. I don’t think Therese and Carol are each other’s one and only. I believe that they have put in a lot of effort and price to be together, and they are all trying to be the most suitable for each other.
Conclusion
Overall, it’s a really great novel worth reading it! I would like to write a small poem to express my love to this novel.
Because of salt The food has a taste, Because of love Life becomes alive.
Amphyiii is here 