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.
Megumi Tanji (Mon,) studied this question.