Identity Conflict between Tradition and Modernity from Giddens' Perspective in the Novel End of the Day

Identity is a psychological necessity for humans and a prerequisite for any social life. Without a framework to define identity, individuals would become indistinguishable from one another, and none could meaningfully connect with others. Trust in one's environment is a vital component of social life, forming the basis of relationships. In its absence, identity conflicts and differences in the behavior of men and women, particularly during the transition from tradition to modernity, emerge. Social trust thus plays a significant role in human interactions, ranging from the micro level (family) to the macro level (society). This article aims to analyze and sociologically explain the factors influencing identity conflict using Anthony Giddens' theory. It examines the characters in the novel End of the Day by Afghan author Mohammad Hossein Mohammadi through a descriptive-analytical method. Giddens argues that to understand identity conflicts, one must first grasp the concept of tradition and its influence on identity structures, followed by an analysis of identity in the modern world. Tradition serves as a pre-established framework for shaping individuals' identities, and each person experiences a phenomenon of rupture in their quest for a new identity in the modern world. For the new generation of Afghan women, despite the limitations of the traditional world, this conflict and rupture have caused identity distress. However, compared to men, these women actively pursue modernity, even as they contend with the conservative restraints imposed by traditional women.