Originally: Themes; Identity
Originally: Themes; Identity
“Originally: Themes”
Cultural Identity and Belonging
- The poem grapples with the notion of cultural identity, seen through the persona’s struggle to assimilate into a new culture.
- The question of belonging surfaces numerous times, particularly with the persona’s moving from one place to another and her expressions of feeling out of place.
- Duffy probes the tension between assimilation and the fear of losing one’s cultural roots.
Loss and Change
- A palpable sense of loss is felt throughout the poem as the persona reflects upon her lost sense of home and the change in her accent.
- The theme of change is presented as an inevitable part of migration and growth. It can be perceived as both a cause for sorrow and a path to new learning experiences.
Childhood and Growing Up
- The theme of childhood is intricately woven into the narrative. The poem revisits the persona’s childhood memories, reflecting upon the naivety and rawness of a child’s emotions when dealing with major life changes.
- The persona’s journey into adulthood and her accompanying changes in perspective can be correlated with Duffy’s theme of growing up.
Displacement
- Duffy captures the feeling of displacement experienced by immigrants, leaving their familiar surroundings and struggling to fit into a new environment.
- The conflict between memory and reality, old home and new home, is expressed to portray the psychological effect of displacement.
“Originally: Identity”
Personal Identity
- The persona’s personal identity is explored through her changing accent and evolving feelings towards her original and acquired culture.
- The shifts in her identity form the heart of the poem, revealing the emotional turmoil and transformation she undergoes.
Cultural Identity
- Cultural identity is manifested through the persona’s memories of her homeland and her navigation of the new cultural landscape she has moved into.
- The poem scrutinises how cultural identity can be both a source of pride and a cause of alienation.
Identity and Migration
- The link between identity and migration is probed, illustrating how moving from one place to another brings forth insecurities and self-questioning.
- The poem exhibits how this shift affects a person’s sense of self and their view of the world.
Identity as a Fluid Concept
- The poem recognises identity as a mutable, evolving concept that moulds itself according to life experiences and circumstances.
- It’s made evident that identity is not set in stone but reshapes itself adapting to new environments and situations.