History, anthropology, travel writing, witness, chemistry, and other discourses are all interwoven in Rukeyser’s “Books of the Dead.” Considering these words in light of what I’ve read in Culler’s chapter is Culler’s arrangement of language that distinguishes literature from language used for other purposes is frequently cited as the primary factor contributing to “literariness.”Because language is used to bring the different elements and components of the text into a complicated relationship, this definition reflects the various opinions on what literature is and does. There are relationships between the structures of many language levels, such as those between sound and meaning, grammatical organization and thematic patterns, or reinforcement or contrast and dissonance. On the other hand, Rukeyser has exposed the effects of economic exploitation and environmental deterioration by using the Gauley Bridge catastrophe as a perspective on the working class and possess a more comprehensive understanding of the contemporary American identity. These labor theories and the damaging effects of unregulated business it has been emphasizing the workers that have had silicosis as a result of the Gauley Bridge catastrophe.

This literary work has the purpose of allowing her to produce a montage of the  testimonies from witnesses, records, audio, stories, photographs taken of what she seen, and medical descriptions, that the Gauley Bridge tragedy has affected the workers. While drilling a tunnel, hundreds of people have perished from inhaling in silica dust. Rukeyser has been a poet and political activist as a result of this incident. She had exposed the structural problems that were causing this catastrophe and provided a voice for the victims. She has combined numerous miners’ testimonies with that she has effectively conveyed the horrific event and its effects on the community. 

Rukeyser wants to serve as a reminder of the significance of social justice, which is why she writes in a way that shapes my thoughts about this tragedy and what steps must be taken to address the structural problems that have been causing these catastrophes. Because of this, Rukeyser has employed documentary techniques, combining the testimonies of the survivors, medical reports, financial market statistics, and the number of people that have perished in this tragedy. As a compelling story has been developed this is to draw attention to institutional racism and the disrespect for African American workers’ safety and welfare. They have been compelled to labor in these hazardous environments without any kind of safety gear.

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