A Fine Balance

Personal greed is a major theme of A Fine Balance. When and how does greed drive the narrative? Is it ever used for good instead of ill?

Discuss the various events that cause Maneck to choose suicide by the end of the book. Which of the novel’s themes does his suicide reflect and why? 

The city is characterized as an ominous, predatory entity. Examine passages where the city is described as sapient or given anthropomorphic abilities. Why does the author choose to give the city life-like qualities?