Another Country begins with Rufus’s death by suicide. How does his death bring the characters together? How does it drive them further apart?

The novel describes many forms of discrimination and prejudice. How do prejudices, such as racism, homophobia, and misogyny, intersect to affect the characters’ lives?

Rufus is alienated from the world, but his friends believe they understand him and his suffering. Which other character best understands Rufus? Which character is mistaken?