Here's a breakdown of what it means:
* Forced Disassembly: The process of unwinding is not voluntary. It's typically ordered by parents, guardians, or the state as a form of punishment or disposal.
* Harvesting for Transplants: The purpose of unwinding is to harvest usable parts. Organs, limbs, tissues, even bone marrow are harvested for transplantation, keeping the "tithe" system of organ donation running.
* Loss of Identity: Unwinding completely destroys a person. Their body is literally broken down and redistributed, leaving no trace of their individual existence.
* Ethical and Moral Questioning: The novel forces readers to confront difficult moral questions about life, death, and the value of human beings. The system of unwinding raises questions about personal autonomy, justice, and the very nature of what it means to be human.
The significance of the term "unwound" in the novel is that it is a euphemism for a brutal and inhumane practice, masking the true horror of the process. The novel uses this term to highlight the dehumanization and systematic destruction of young lives in a seemingly sterile and efficient system.