The Mother as Social Activist in Muriel Rukeyser's "The Book of the Dead" and Maxo Vanka's Murals

Abstract

Abstract:This essay examines the connections between Rukeyser's poem sequence and Vanka's murals, arguing that these works from the 1930s subvert the New Deal call for women to espouse traditional domestic duties. Rather, they envision a public space where women, particularly mothers, take an active role in advocating for social justice.