Cia is primarily defined by her intelligence, compassion, and determination. Because the novel is written in a first-person limited point of view, the reader experiences the world the way Cia does. These qualities in combination contribute to the picture of the world that Cia lives in. Without Cia’s perspective, the reader would not be privy to the many subtle (and not-so-subtle) hints at the dark, brutal nature of the Commonwealth.

Cia’s intelligence and determination are the qualities that earned her the notice of her new teacher and the Testing officials. Her intelligence was nurtured by her family and is demonstrated through her early inventions, her varied scholastic aptitude, and her ability to quickly and accurately solve problems. These qualities serve her well after she’d been chosen for The Testing, too, tempering her trusting nature enough that she is able to recognize and avoid the sabotage frequently planned by the other candidates. One important example of this is Cia’s performance in the teamwork stage of The Testing. All four candidates heard the same instructions. Only Roman and Cia saw the potential for sabotage but while Roman seized the opportunity to trick the others, Cia opted for the compassionate route, instead.