VOICING THE VOICELESS: A FOREGROUNDED ANALYSIS OF MARGINALITY AND SOCIAL CRITIQUE IN AQIB’S DOWN TO THE DUST

Abstract

This study, titled "Voicing the Voiceless: A Foregrounded Analysis of Marginality and Social Critique in Down to the Dust”, explores the interplay of linguistic foregrounding, marginality, and social criticism in the poem "Down to the Dust" by Farzana Aqib. Using a stylistic and thematic framework, the paper analyzes the poet's use of foregrounding through anagrams and sound patterns that highlight societal issues such as poverty, gender discrimination, labor exploitation, and political instability in Pakistan. The paper contributes to the understanding of how poetic language can be utilized as a tool of resistance and social consciousness.