What question did this study set out to answer?

This study examines retirement adjustment as depicted in Anne Tyler's fictional works, focusing on character experiences.

June 2, 2026Open Access

Retirement Adjustment in Anne Tyler’s Fictions : A Study of 𝑆𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑡 𝑀𝑎𝑦𝑏𝑒 and 𝑁𝑜𝑎ℎ’𝑠 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑠

Key Points

This study examines retirement adjustment as depicted in Anne Tyler's fictional works, focusing on character experiences.
Analyzed character development in Anne Tyler's novels, particularly Saint Maybe and Noah’s Compass.
Explored psychological and sociological aspects of retirement adjustment in literature.
In Saint Maybe, the retiree follows a typical adjustment pattern despite unexpected challenges.
Noah’s Compass shows a retired teacher facing job loss and personal crises, highlighting the complexity of adjustment.
Both characters achieve self-understanding and family reconciliation, illustrating supportive roles of community and family.

Abstract

Anne Tyler’s fictions abound with problems concerning aging, and retirement is one of the many milestones that recurrently appear in her works. Psychological and sociological studies have revealed how retirement may affect one’s identity, and that adjustment to life after retirement is not a single event but a process. In 𝑆𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑡 𝑀𝑎𝑦𝑏𝑒, we see a retiree who follows the general adjustment pattern, although unexpected situations affect him. In 𝑁𝑜𝑎ℎ'𝑠 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑠, a retired school teacher learns to adjust to the loss of a job. The process is bumpy because of being a victim of a criminal act and experiencing a failed romance. The retiree navigates the adjustment period, ultimately reaching a renewed understanding of himself and a reconciliation with one of his daughters. Typically, both retirees undergo a transitional period in their lives, supported by their families and the local community.

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