Genre
Fiction; Lesbian Fiction
Setting and Context
New York, and the Midwest, during the 1950s
Narrator and Point of View
The point of view is Therese's
Tone and Mood
Romantic and hopeful, at the same time, the mood is in some way tragic in that Carol's sexuality is used against her. The mood at the end of the novel is upbeat.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Therese is the protagonist; Harge is the antagonist as his actions prevent Carol from pursuing their relationship.
Major Conflict
There is conflict throughout the novel between Carol and her husband, Harge, as they are going through a divorce, which Harge makes far more unpleasant than it needs to be by having a detective tail Carol as she is on a trip with Therese.
Climax
Therese realizes that she is crushed by the weight of her loneliness and finds Carol again; the two continue their relationship.
Foreshadowing
The presence of a bug in their hotel room foreshadows Harge's victory in custody proceedings as he ha evidence of a gay affair to use against his soon-to-be-ex wife.
Understatement
Therese is described as lonely which is an understatement; she has suffered from an extreme sense of abandonment most of her life.
Allusions
Allusions are made to famous department store Bergdof Goodman and it's spectacular Christmas toy display.
Imagery
No specific examples.
Paradox
Carol dismisses Therese's feelings as a schoolgirl crush but is actually the one who realizes the depth of her feelings first.
Parallelism
There is a parallel between Therese's feelings of abandonment as a child and her feelings of abandonment when Carol leaves to go back to New York.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
No specific examples.
Personification
No specific examples.
