THE SIGNS OF REAL FOR THE REAL IN RIZWAN AKHTAR’S THE DEATH OF PRIVACY

Abstract

This paper investigates the markers of authenticity—“the signs of real”—in Rizwan Akhtar’s The Death of Privacy. Drawing on Baudrillard’s theory of simulacra alongside existentialist insights, the study explores how Akhtar’s poem critiques the proliferation of artificial constructs in modern society while advocating for a reclamation of genuine human experience. Through a close reading of key symbols, such as the ever-ticking clock, the cunning insect, and the contemplative lizard, the analysis reveals a deliberate juxtaposition between simulated realities and the enduring essence of nature and existence. The poem emerges as a meditation on the erosion of authenticity in a world dominated by commodified simulations and superficial pursuits. Ultimately, the paper argues that Akhtar not only exposes the hollow veneer of modernity but also invites readers to seek and affirm the real—the natural, the timeless, and the profoundly human—as a pathway to transcend alienation in contemporary life.