In Margaret Atwood's "Surfacing," the protagonist grapples with the complexity of communication. For him, speaking becomes a challenging endeavor, akin to a skirmish where each word is painstakingly processed and released. His struggle with language is vividly depicted through the metaphor of words resembling tanks, suggesting their weight and the effort required to articulate them.

This portrayal of speech highlights the psychological barriers the character faces. Each word feels cumbersome, indicating a deeper sense of conflict and isolation within his mind. The imagery of organized and heavy artillery portrays his feelings toward self-expression as a formidable, almost military-like operation, underscoring the difficulty of conveying thoughts and emotions.