Kebutuhan Anak: Peran Keluarga dan Persahabatan dalam Novel The Railway Children karya Nesbit = Children's Needs: The Role of Family and Friendship in Nesbit's The Railway Children

Basic human needs are an essential aspect of individual development, especially during childhood. In literary works, these needs are often portrayed through the characters' journeys in facing various life challenges. This study aims to identify children's needs in The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit, focusing on Roberta, Peter, and Phyllis. It analyzes how they meet their physiological, safety, love and belonging, self-esteem, and self-actualization needs, highlighting the role of family and friendship in this process. This study employed a qualitative descriptive method, with The Railway Children as the primary data source. Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory is applied to analyze how the three main characters fulfill their basic needs through family and friendships. The results of this study show that the family plays a crucial role in fulfilling their needs, with their mother taking primary responsibility. Their father also contributes to meeting their needs upon his return, further ensuring their well-being. Additionally, the friendships they build with railway workers and villagers provide essential emotional and practical support that help fulfill their needs. This study concludes that family and friendship are crucial in fulfilling children's needs in The Railway Children. It highlights the direct relationship between social support and the fulfillment of children's needs, showing how the combination of family roles and friendships shapes their emotional resilience and personal growth. The emotional and practical support from family and social bonds helps children navigate life’s challenges, fulfill their needs, and ensure their well-being and continuous development.