Significant events, including her experiences with political turmoil and personal struggles, defined the creative output of Muriel Rukeyser. Her early involvement in leftist politics and activism during the Great Depression influenced her poetry, which often focused on social justice and the human experience. Events like the Spanish Civil War and the rise of fascism galvanized her commitment to addressing inequality and representing marginalized voices. Rukeyser's firsthand experiences with a mining disaster in Hawk's Nest, West Virginia, also catalyzed her activism, leading to profound poetry and a rich body of work that championed change and empathy.