It emphasizes the disconnect between the two characters. Rose has never bothered to try and get the pronunciation of Caroline's name correct and Caroline doesn't care enough about her or have any desire to have any "intimacy" in their relationship to bother correcting her (you would only allow someone who you truly don't care a whit about and pay no atention to, to do that). She likes that they're not friends or have any real relationship. Noah also doesn't care enough about Rose to bother correcting her on Caroline's behalf (and the husband as usual just isn't paying attention). This shows just how isolated Rose is in this family unit.
"Carolyn" is also begets a more "northern" and "sophisticated" (Kennedy-esque?) take on the name, subtlely emphasizing how out-of-place Rose is in Louisiana.
Further, it says something about the Rose character -- her "I know better than you" attitude towards her surroundings. She may know perfectly well how Caroline's name has been pronounced, but she's the kind of person who would think "Well, yes, that's how these people say it, but isn't it much better and prettier if I say it this way? Carolyn will thank me for it." Bitch.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
Updated On: 8/5/04 at 03:01 AM