The role that social justice plays in “The Book of the Dead” is essential, especially when it comes down to the tragedy in the Hawk’s Nest Tunnel, where hundreds of workers died due to unsafe working conditions, leading to them having a medical condition called silicosis. She blends poetry and activism using real court testimonies, medical reports, and personal stories to advocate for justice for the victims through her art, ensuring their suffering isn’t forgotten. Her strong image and clear contrasts between the promise of industrial growth and the harsh treatment of workers highlight the human cost of unchecked capitalism. Rukeyser uses free verse and a broken structure to reflect the disrupted lives of the victims and the social divide caused by economic and racial oppression. Her work honors those who have died and calls for accountability.

This entry is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license.