Retirees’ Psychological Struggles in Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and The Sea

This study explores and analyzes retirees‟ psychological struggles as portrayed in the novel The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway. It uses a qualitative method with Erik Erikson‟s psychosocial theory as the main approach. The data is collected through a comprehensive and in-depth reading of the novel by identifying and marking narrative elements, character dialogues, and symbols that represent the main character‟s psychological condition. The data is analyzed using the Miles and Huberman technique, which consists of four stages: data collection, data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The results show that the novel reflects various forms of psychological struggles commonly experienced by individuals in old age. These struggles include identity crisis, fear of uselessness, and loneliness. The identity crisis is shown through Santiago‟s self-doubt after failing to catch a fish for several days, which makes him feel that he is no longer the great fisherman he once was. The fear of uselessness appears through his weakened physical condition due to aging, but he continues to try hard to prove that he still has value and purpose in life. Loneliness is illustrated through his solitary life, without a wife, children, or close friends. This study concludes that it is important for every individual to accept the reality that aging is a natural part of life. By accepting it sincerely and with full awareness, a person can live their later years more peacefully and wisely, while maintaining dignity and a meaningful sense of life.