What are the motifs in A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute?

Money is a recurring idea. The "root of all evil" is shown in A Town Like Alice to be capable of great good, given the proper frame of mind. Early in their captivity, the Englishwomen are loath to pool their remaining money to buy provisions and medicine to benefit all. Those with large families prefer to hoard. Later, they come to hock possessions to buy things more necessary. The Chinese merchants see the Englishwomen ripe for the picking and inflate prices as stocks dwindle and demand grows.