In Ken Kesey's novel "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," the narrator observes how machines, representative of oppressive systems, manipulate language and expression. The narrator feels that their thoughts and spoken words are being examined and altered by this mechanized force, which seeks to impose order but often fails to acknowledge the true essence of communication. Words become tangled and misplaced, reflecting the struggle of individuals trying to convey their experiences in a rigid environment.

This highlights the broader theme of control over personal identity and expression. The machinery, symbolic of institutional power, disregards the fluidity and richness of human speech, leading to a rejection of authentic voices. This critique of conformity and depersonalization resonates throughout the novel, illustrating the conflict between individuality and the mechanisms that strive to suppress it.