The Price of Salt

I'm enjoying The Price of Salt thus far. Therese reminds me of a marionette puppet. She may have thoughts or feelings but for the most part is controlled by her surroundings. She is involved with a man who has another relationship. She works in a job which she doesn't enjoy. She has a dream career but has not taken the steps to make it permanent. Often, Therese has conversations or desires inside of her head without being able to actualize them. She's obviously an intelligent girl with potential - however something perpetually holds her back. It seems that Therese is stuck in a rut until Carol comes along.

A common pop culture phrase du'jour is "white girl problems" and frankly, that's how I think of Therese. Therese doesn't have the problems of the truly poor or sick or desperately in need. Rather her issues are that life isn't working out for her exactly as planned. Unfortunately, I think that Therese put a lot of these problems on herself. She let's people control her or doesn't express her opinion and thus is stuck in a rut.

Carol presents an interesting "out" for Therese. She's sophisticated, beautiful, more mature. She clearly has her life more together than Therese who is just sticking it out until her big break. It makes complete sense that Therese would be fascinated by Carol considering that she's a foil. Carol know's what she wants, she has it together, while Therese is in the vast midst of nothing-ness and uncertainty.