Cinder

by

Marissa Meyer

The Eastern Commonwealth Term Analysis

The Eastern Commonwealth, where Cinder lives, is one of the major nations of Earth in the novel (its real-world counterpart is the continent of Asia). The Eastern Commonwealth’s capital is New Beijing. Emperor Rikan is the emperor of the Eastern Commonwealth before Prince Kai ascends the throne.

The Eastern Commonwealth Quotes in Cinder

The Cinder quotes below are all either spoken by The Eastern Commonwealth or refer to The Eastern Commonwealth. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Bravery and Sacrifice Theme Icon
).
Chapter 2 Quotes

The cyborg draft had been started by some royal research team a year ago. Every morning, a new ID number was drawn from the pool of so many thousand cyborgs who resided in the Eastern Commonwealth. Subjects had been carted in from provinces as far-reaching as Mumbai and Singapore to act as guinea pigs for the antidote testing. 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. Many of them had been given a second chance at life by the generous hand of scientists and therefore owed their very existence to those who had created them. They were lucky to have lived this long, many thought. It’s only right that they should be the first to give up their lives in search for the cure.

Related Characters: Cinder/Princess Selene, Prince Kai, Pearl, Emperor Rikan
Page Number: 28
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 35 Quotes

Dropping his hand, Kai met Konn Torin’s gaze, his eyes hollow. “I know,” he said. “I will do what is best for them.”

Cinder gathered up the material of her skirt in both hands, hope stirring inside of her. He understood her warnings. He understood the mistake he would be making if he agreed to marry Levana. She had succeeded.

But then he turned toward her, and the hope shattered at seeing the helplessness etched in deep lines across his brow.

“Thank you for warning me, Cinder. At least I won’t be going into this blindly.”

Related Characters: Prince Kai (speaker), Cinder/Princess Selene, Queen Levana, Konn Torin
Page Number: 347
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 38 Quotes

Releasing the new prosthesis, Cinder covered her ears and buried her face against her knee. The draft. All those cyborgs. So many people convinced that it was the right thing. That it was better them than humans. Once a science project, always a science project.

And he’d only wanted to find her.

Related Characters: Cinder/Princess Selene, Prince Kai, Queen Levana, Dr. Erland
Page Number: 382
Explanation and Analysis:
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Cinder PDF

The Eastern Commonwealth Term Timeline in Cinder

The timeline below shows where the term The Eastern Commonwealth appears in Cinder. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1
Stereotypes and Discrimination Theme Icon
...display in Cinder’s eye identifies him as Prince Kai, the crown prince of the Eastern Commonwealth. Cinder bows awkwardly, hiding her missing foot. Kai asks her to keep his identity quiet... (full context)
Chapter 23
Bravery and Sacrifice Theme Icon
Power, Greed, and Evil Theme Icon
...country, and Torin chimes in that they monitor all spacecraft coming into and leaving the Commonwealth. Queen Levana insists that fugitives must be found, and Torin promises that they can search... (full context)
Chapter 31
Bravery and Sacrifice Theme Icon
Power, Greed, and Evil Theme Icon
...the other Earthen countries officiate the lavish coronation as Kai vows to govern the Eastern Commonwealth according to its laws and customs, ruling with kindness and patience, and honoring the rights... (full context)