Hey, kiddo. What's up, junior? What's happenin', gramps? Yo, pruneface.
No one likes being reduced to just their age. It's a lazy way to stereotype people, and you'd think people used to being stereotyped would know better—but the older lesbians in The Price of Salt seems to see younger women as brainless children who can barely function in society.
To be fair to Carol, though, Therese is young and she is inexperienced, so there is a kernel of truth to the various remarks against her. Trouble is, everyone in this book, regardless of age, has things to learn.
Questions About Youth
- Therese and Carol are ten to fifteen years apart. How does the age difference affect their relationship? Who usually takes charge? Do the characters feel strange about their age difference?
- Would the age difference be remarkable if this were a relationship between a man and a woman? How would it be different if Carol were an older man? How about if Carol were in love with a younger man?
- Therese is young, but is she inexperienced? Or is she wise for her age? How does Therese mature over the course of the novel?