Cinder

The cyborg draft communicates the belief that cyborgs are less than human and therefore of lesser value. In the search for a cure for letumosis, humans are not forced to participate at the cost of their life, only cyborgs: “It was made out to be some sort of honor, giving your life for the good of humanity, but it was really just a reminder that cyborgs were not like everyone else” (29). Cyborgs reach a level of value within the social world only through their role as test subjects.

Taken against her will and by force, Cinder arrives to the research lab unconscious, waking up in restraints. The treatment of Cinder while in the lab—restrained and invasively assessed—highlights the dehumanizing actions aimed at cyborgs. They lack choice for participating in the cyborg draft, and they lack choice in what happens to them throughout the research procedures; no consent is needed for these actions to take place.

Cyborgs of value to the researchers are injected with letumosis, followed by an antidote. However, up to the point of Cinder’s participation in the research, no successful antidotes exist, resulting in cyborg deaths. No words help to comfort Cinder, and there are only observations made by Erland and others from the safety of another room.