Mercer and Kalden are the only two characters who are consistently critical of The Circle. In what ways are their concerns similar, and in what ways do they differ?

After Mercer’s death, why doesn’t Mae seem distraught? Is she coping by focusing on work, or is she losing touch with her emotions? Support your answer with specific examples from the text.

Consider the “black tear” within Mae. What are its triggers? What does she do to address it? By the end of the novel, has she successfully remedied it?