The Investigation of Modernity Components in Pahlavi Era Relying on Selected Persian Stories

For understanding modernity issue and its consequences on different societies, not only sociology studies, but also the literature study, especially the novels, can have a significant role. Therefore, the main purpose of this research study is to investigate modernity in Iranian society and to explore the Iranian society’s response to its existence relying on three stories of ‘safineye talebi’, ‘ az rozegare rafte hekayat’ , and ‘samfooni mordegan’ based on citation method. These stories reflect on different modernity issues comprising of education, religion, entertainment, separation of powers, establishment of factories, and colonialism. Taalbot’s explained society was not modernized yet, and he believed that people should stick to the positive aspects of both modernity and tradition. According to Taalbot, the science and technology are the only beneficial aspects of western societies. He also criticized the people who turn to the consumerism. Ibrahim Golestan asserted that his explained society was on the way of becoming industrialized and the consequence of this industrialization was the people’s loss of identity. He has a pessimistic view towards the modernization of society. Maroufi indicated that unlike the old generation, the young generation accepted the underlying issues of modernity and this led to the opposition between these two generations. He believes that society should become modernized, like the society which he described in his story.