A Canticle For Leibowitz

Are you convinced that the old hermit and The Wandering Jew are Leibowitz? Is the reader meant to believe that Leibowitz is immortal? Discuss your reasoning.

Why does Zerchi tell the mother with the suffering child about his cat, Zeke?

There are few female characters in the novel. Mrs. Grales and Rachel are two major exceptions. Discuss the possible significance of their characters and why there are so few women in the story.