Write an essay in which you analyze Claude’s relationship with one of the religious traditions he encounters. How does he feel about this particular religion and its potential value for both individuals and society? Do his feelings about it change, and if so, what informs that change?

Analyze Claude’s relationship with his parents. What does he think of their core values? How does he depict the generational divide that separates them? What do they have in common? How does his depiction of them exemplify his feelings about authority?

The novel has received criticism about Claude’s use of racial, religious, and gender slurs. How do you think this language affects the novel?