Octopus

[the Robot Vegetable]

  Perhaps a comparison to Frank Norris's _The Octopus_ is in line
here.  This "epic portrayal of economic determinism" seems to be
painting many of the same regimentation and exploitation of
individuals' attempts to craft their own way in the world.  They
both take place in Zones of chaos being wrested into uniform
usefulness to the Man's system.
  The octopus is also a symbol of phallic power.  Here's this soft
squishy thing with no bones that can acquire firmness and focus
force.
  A third take comes to mind, as the caffiene kicks in.  The octopus
is used as a tool,  this creature that is extremely alien yet aware
and fairly intelligent.  This is much the same as every other "wacky"
person the intelligence group uses as a tool.  An abstraction of the
way the system will co-opt elements of the environment for its own
purposes, elements that are refused official recognition of quality
on their own scales,  which don't harmonize with the system's symphony,
yet which are molded and manipulated for the furthering of the
economic ... um, octopus.    Wait, I've gone full circle!  The octopus
as symbol for the ogligarchy as well as a symbol of the alien and,
hmm, aunderstood (trying for a word meaning that understanding is not
really attempted)  ... alien tool whose qualities are ignored but
whose odd shape may be useful to plug the dike.

 veg