Deep emotions and penetrating views of people

"Salt" and choice

In 1948, American author Gore Vidal published The City and The Pillar, which is considered the first homosexual novel in modern America. Four years later, Patricia Highsmith, who was famous for her detective novel Strangers on a Train, also published The Price of Salt , about two women in love, and was the first work in this genre to have a happy ending. Both were pioneers in seeing through a person's instincts.

The novel revolves around two main characters: Therese Belivet, 21 years old, a somewhat naive young girl; and Carol Aird - a married woman in her 30s, in the process of completing a divorce. Meeting by chance at Christmas, love soon blossomed between the two of them.

But can happiness be found when the stereotypes of loving someone like yourself are still considered corrupt? And will Carol choose motherhood or love and freedom? Once again, Highsmith pushes the boundaries, resulting in a complex and thoughtful story.

Writer Patricia Highsmith and the novel At the Bottom of My Feelings

There is a common thread between the two works mentioned above, as both titles mention "salt". If Gore Vidal quoted the biblical story of Lot's wife turning into a pillar of salt after looking back at the dissolute city of Sodom; for Highsmith, "salt" is tears and pain. According to the original, the work's original title was The Price of Salt, or Carol - implicitly alluding to the act of choosing.

So will Therese choose Carol or choose tears? Both authors have brought about the dilemma of individuals who are not themselves. And then, in order to live true to their instincts, they are forced to choose and sacrifice something at a great price.

In this work, the two main characters are caught between shackles. For Carol, it is the sacredness of motherhood, which her ex-husband is trying to divorce, and to live with the person she loves. For Therese, it is the question of sacrifice or holding on to someone's image. Putting aside the issue of struggle, Highsmith delves very deeply into the inner side, thereby evoking complex thoughts.

Like Robert in The Owl or Mr. Ripley in the detective series of the same name, Highsmith still shows an extremely impressive ability to describe psychology. Following the development of the characters, we can see many inexplicable complexes, and the completely honest description of a character and a story could not be more different.

Novel Deep Down

Source: The New Yorker and Bach Viet

Distinctive femininity

With its layered structure of plots, roles, and purposes, The Bottom of Feelings still defies interpretation to this day. Although written from personal experience, Highsmith has yet to address any doubts in this work. Is the relationship between the two characters purely love or is there more to it? And is there a seed for a feminist struggle?

With a gap of more than 10 years, the relationship between Carol and Therese can be seen as that of mother and daughter. This was once doubted because Carol always took care of and supported the other, from the milk, the food to the way of living and behaving... On the contrary, the 21-year-old girl was also put in an unfortunate situation, living alone, completely innocent, to match the privilege. Therefore, the relationship between the two of them seemed to be a combination of many causes rather than a single emotion.

It is also noteworthy that Highsmith presented a very gentle feminine side. In her descriptions, the language, rhythm and style are very strong. She shows a skillful ability to observe and to name each emotion. For Carol, it is the intelligent eyes, the sweet smell of perfume and the flowing golden hair… For Therese, it is doubt, reservations, jealousy and despair… that take turns dominating.

Highsmith also wrote beautiful, cinematic moments that still resonate today. In 2015, director Todd Haynes brought this novel to the big screen. In the scene where Therese sits at the grand piano and battles with Carol, the woman's mouth pronouncing the two words "Te-zee" and the gentle touch on the thin shoulder... were vividly recreated. The film was later nominated for 6 Oscars and 9 BAFTAs with excellent performances by two stars Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara.

The sexuality in the novel is also close to the norm. Highsmith still shows us the passion and pleasure, thereby conveying the freedom and emotion of living according to instinct. This is somewhat coincident with the second wave of feminist movements, when instinct was a means for them to speak up and liberate themselves. Therefore, in a broader view, this novel is also another voice in search of freedom that is extremely powerful.

For 7 decades since its introduction to readers, The Bottom of Emotions has always been a name mentioned in works written about and for the LGBTQ+ community. Particularly in Vietnam, the work still holds an important position when it has been reprinted for many years, thereby showing a different era, different people - when they were pioneers, daring to write, daring to love and daring to live truthfully.

Patricia Highsmith (1921 - 1995) was an American novelist and short story writer known for her detective, psychological, and thriller works. During her nearly five-decade writing career, she published 22 novels and numerous short stories. Her themes often included questions of identity and challenging moral propositions. In 2008, TIMES called her the greatest crime writer.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/sach-hay-tan-day-cam-xuc-va-cai-nhin-xuyen-thau-ve-con-nguoi-185230623121624735.htm