Therese Belivet is the main character in the novel "Carol," written by Patricia Highsmith. Set in the 1950s, she is a young woman working as a department store clerk in New York City. Therese is artistic and dreams of becoming a set designer, but she feels trapped in her mundane life. As the story unfolds, Therese becomes infatuated with Carol Aird, an older woman who is glamorous and sophisticated. Their relationship develops into a romantic bond, challenging societal norms of the time. Therese's journey explores themes of love, identity, and self-discovery.