The term “duckling” in literature often carries both literal and symbolic weight, serving as a vehicle to explore themes of transformation, alienation, and identity. In Hans Christian Andersen’s works, for instance, the duckling is portrayed as an innocent yet troubled figure—one who is simultaneously bewildered by its surroundings ([1], [2], [3]), judged and even isolated through trial-like experiences ([4]), and gently encouraged to seek its own way in the world ([5], [6]). This recurring characterization underscores a broader commentary on societal expectations and self-discovery. In contrast, other authors such as José Rizal and Anton Pavlovich Chekhov have appropriated the image with a more ironic or utilitarian purpose—whether in the stark description of duck eggs mere steps into consumption ([7]) or as a biting observation of perceived ugliness and exclusion ([8], [9]). Even in James Joyce’s Ulysses, the phrase is used to evoke complex emotions surrounding isolation and the burdens of difference ([10]). Together, these varied uses demonstrate how the “duckling” transcends its literal identity to become a nuanced metaphor for the struggles of self-acceptance and societal alienation.