Identities in Transit: Bauman s Liquid Modernity in Carol Ann Duffy s Originally

This paper considers Carol Ann Duffy’s 1990 poem Originally through Zygmunt Bauman’s idea of liquid modernity, which portrays today’s world as uncertain and marked by the weakening of fixed identities. The poem’s three stanzas are examined to show how migration affects personal and cultural identity, balancing the wish for stability with the need for change. A close reading method, supported by literary and sociological ideas, is used to show how the speaker represents a world where traditional belonging fades and temporary ties emerge. The use of free verse and strong images such as the “red room” and “tongue shedding its skin” supports the theme of shifting identity. Duffy’s Scottish-Irish background gives the poem a cultural richness and reflects her awareness of being uprooted. The poem is seen as a thoughtful response to the emotional and mental effects of migration. Combining Bauman’s theory with Duffy’s poetic language, this work contributes to literary research by examining how poetry connects with present-day social life.