The Price of Salt, or Carol Chapter 7 Quotes

The Price of Salt, or Carol Chapter 7 Quotes

How we cite the quotes:
(Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote 1

"I mean, I think people often try to find through sex, things that are much easier to find in other ways." (7.94)

What is Therese trying to say here? Is she saying that sex is unnecessary? Or is this just her youthful inexperience talking? What are Carol and Therese trying to find through sex?

Quote 2

"At least you're not going to make the same mistake I did, to marry because it was the thing to do when you were about twenty, among the people I knew." (7.76)

Carol probably got married in the 1940s, when it was even more expected for women to marry. Therese is living at the beginning of a new society that's starting to be more accepting of single women. But it's just starting; there's still a long way to go.

Quote 3

"Child, child, where do you wander—all by yourself?" (7.102)

Carol's paraphrasing a song, but it's still a weird thing for a lover to say to another, although the two aren't lovers yet. Carol seems to be suggesting that Therese needs a mentor so she won't be a child all by herself.