THE DIARY OF A YOUNG GIRL – ANNE FRANK

Character List
Anne Frank
A young Dutch woman of German-Jewish origin. She is the youngest child of Mr.
and Mrs. Frank. As the diary is her property and prized possession, the readers
remain in her head throughout the length of the book. In her diary she is
precocious, intelligent, charming, and, even under the worst circumstances, funny.
Over the course of the diary, she grows from a spoiled, somewhat naive young girl
of thirteen to a self-aware young woman of fifteen. Although she has little political
consciousness at the beginning of the diary, she grows to question anti-Semitism
and the point of war. During her time in the annex, she suffers from boredom,
despair, and the petty persecution of those around her. She also discovers a wealth
of good qualities in herself. After the annex residents are discovered, she goes to
the concentration camp at Belsen, in Germany, where she dies before her sixteenth
birthday.
Margot Frank
Anne Frank's older sister. She is sixteen years old when Anne's diary begins. Quiet,
studious, humble, and eager to please the adults, Margot often clashes with her
sister, who is considered talkative and rebellious. Others often hold her up as a
model for Anne to emulate. It is Margot who is first called up by the Gestapo in
Amsterdam. This call forces the Franks to go into hiding. She dies a few weeks
before Anne in the Belsen concentration camp.
Mrs. Frank
The mother of Anne and Margot Frank. She comes from a wealthy family and has
spent most of her life in Germany. In terms of her mothering skills, she is
somewhat of a disappointment to Anne, who would prefer her to be more
affectionate and accepting. A peacemaker, she is the voice of reason during adult
fights in the annex. After the residents are captured and her daughters are sent to
the Belsen camp, she is left to die at Auschwitz.
Mr. Otto Frank
The father of Anne and Margot Frank. He comes from a wealthy family and spent
most of his life in Germany. When Hitler rose to power in 1933, Mr. Frank reacted
by relocating his family to Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. There, he worked in the
food products business. When the Nazis invaded the Netherlands, he made
arrangements for his family to go into hiding in the building in which he was once
employed. (Jews were not allowed to work with non-Jewish Dutch after the Nazis
took over the Netherlands.) He is Anne's favorite relative; she often calls him "Pim"
and considers him her savior and confidant in the annex. He is the sole surviving
member of his family after the war. He arranged for the publication of Anne's diary
and died in the early 1980s.
Mr. Van Daan
A business associate of Mr. Frank. He was formerly in the meat and sausage
business. He arranges for his family to live with the Franks in the annex of their
former establishment. Anne considers him to be an insufferable know-it-all, though
she reserves the majority of her ire for his wife. He is gassed at Auschwitz.
Mrs. Van Daan
Mr. Van Daan's wife. The Van Daans are also German; Mrs. Van Daan's Dutch is
poor. She is vain and lacking in humility. Anne finds her to be the most insufferable
annex resident of them all and is particulary annoyed when Mrs. Van Daan flirts
with Mr. Frank. Peter Van Daan has trouble talking to her, this leads Anne to
believe that she, like Mrs. Frank, lacks mothering skills. She dies in the camp at
Belsen.
Peter Van Daan
The only son of Mr. and Mrs. Van Daan. He is almost sixteen when he comes to live
in the annex. Shy, awkward, and introspective, he does not pique Anne's attention
until they have been living in the annex for almost two years. Then they begin a
deep friendship that leads to some physical intimacy. Anne is at first head over
heels in love with him, then she realizes that, although he is a nice young man, he
is weak-minded and lacks character. He disappears on a forced march with the
German army.
Albert Dussel
An elderly dentist who is invited to share the rooms in the annex with the Franks
and the Van Daans. His wife managed to escape the occupation. He stays in Anne's
room and drives her crazy with his odd nocturnal habits. He can also be petty and
small-minded. He dies in the Neuengamme camp, in Germany.
Mr. Koophius
A Dutch associate of Mr. Frank's who arranges for them to live in the annex. He
provides them with food and, through enormous effort, keeps their secret for two
years. He is captured with the Franks and the Van Daans but released for medical
care due to his health problems.
Mr. Kraler
Another Dutch associate of Mr. Frank's who arranges for the living situation in the
annex. Along with Mr. Koophius, he bears the brunt of responsibility for their
secret. He, too, is arrested for his role in helping the annex residents. He spends
eight months in a forced labor camp.
Miep
A Dutch woman who assists the annex residents with food, clothing, books, and
companionship. She cheerfully assists them with the things they need and pitches
in to give them holidays. Along with Elli, she retrieves and saves Anne's diary from
the floor after the annex residents are arrested.
Elli
A Dutch woman who does chores and finds food and clothing for the annex
residents, as well as arranging for illegal goods and coupons. She often gives Anne
and Margot office work, to prevent them from being bored. Along with Miep, she
retrieves and saves Anne's diary from the floor of the annex after the residents are
arrested.
Lies
Anne's school friend. While Anne is in the annex, she has visions of Lies suffering in
a concentration camp. After Anne was sent to Belsen, she found Lies there, and the
girls were happy that at least they could suffer together before they both died.
Peter Wessel
Anne has a crush on this school boy. They were companions, on and off, before she
was forced to go into hiding. About two years after she is in hiding, she remembers
him with longing and desire. Some of her love for Peter Van Daan is actually love
for Peter Wessel.
Harry Goldberg
Anne's boy friend at the time she has to go into hiding. He is a member of the
Zionist Youth League.

Section One: June 12 to July 8, 1942

Summary:
The epigraph of this book is in Anne's handwriting and claims that she hopes she
will be able to confide "completely" in her diary, and that it shall be a great comfort
to her.
The first entry of the diary is on June 12, Anne's thirteenth birthday. She tells the
story of how she woke early and then had to contain herself until seven a.m. to
wake her parents and open her presents. She claims that the diary, one of those
presents, is "possibly the nicest of all." She relates her list of presents, adding that
she is "thoroughly spoiled," and then goes off to school with her friend Lies. On
Sunday she has a birthday party with her school friends. Her mother always asks
who she is going to marry, and she has managed to dissuade her from the boy she
really likes, Peter Wessel. She talks about her school friends: Lies Goosens, Sanne
Houtman, and Jopie de Waal. Lies and Sanne used to be her best friends, but since
she started attending the Jewish Secondary School, she has become closer to Jopie.
On Saturday, June 20, Anne divulges that she wants her diary to be a friend to her-
-unlike her other friends, someone she can completely confide to. Although she has
a loving family and lots of friends, she feels isolated and alone sometimes, and
wants her diary to be someone she can talk to openly and honestly about
everything. So she will call her diary "Kitty" and address it like a friend. She tells
Kitty the history of her family: her parents' marriage, her 1929 birth in Frankfurt,
and then, "as we are Jewish," their 1933 emigration to Holland. The rest of her
family suffered under Hitler's pogroms in Germany; some of them managed to
emigrate to other countries.
After 1940, Hitler conquered Holland and brought anti-Jewish measures there. Jews
were forced to wear yellow stars as marks of identification; they had to hand in
their bicycles and were not allowed to use trams or public facilities. They were
segregated into Jewish shops and Jewish schools and not allowed to visit Christian
homes. As Anne says, "Our freedom was strictly limited." Her beloved grandmother
died in 1942. She went to the Montessori Kindergarten for lower school and
currently, she attends the Jewish Secondary School.
The next entry, also on June 20, begins with the signature greeting of "Dear Kitty."
Anne says that she has taken a liking to ping-pong; she and her friends often play
and then go get ice-cream at the nearest shop that allows Jews. There, they let
their admirers buy them ice cream. At this point, Anne lets the diary know that she
has plenty of boy friends, whom offer to escort her home from school and almost
always fall in love with her. She tries to ignore them when they do. Meanwhile,
Anne's whole class is waiting anxiously to hear who will be promoted to the next
grade. She personally is not worried about any subject except for math, since she
has been punished for talking too much. Her teacher made her write three essays
about being a "chatterbox." After she wrote funny essays, he allowed her to talk in
class.
In the boiling heat, Anne wishes she didn't have to walk everywhere--but alas, Jews
are not allowed to ride trams. The only place they are allowed is the ferry, which
the ferryman let them ride as soon as they asked. Anne expresses sympathy
towards the Dutch; saying it is not their fault that the Germans treat Jews so badly.
She is approached by Harry Goldberg, a sixteen-year-old boy she met at her friend
Eva's house. He "can tell all kinds of amusing stories," says Anne, and soon the two
are seeing each other regularly. Although Harry has a girl friend, Fanny, a "very
soft, dull creature," he is smitten with Anne. Although his grandparents, with whom
he lives, think Anne is too young for him, he stops going out with Fanny and makes
himself available to Anne. When she asks how, he claims, "Love finds a way."
Harry comes to meet her parents, and Anne makes all sorts of preparations for his
visit. They go out for a walk, and Harry brings Anne home ten minutes after eight
o'clock. As Jews have a city-wide curfew of eight o'clock, Mr. Frank is very upset
and makes Anne promise to be back in the house at ten minutes to eight from now
on. Still, her family likes Harry, and Anne does as well.
Anne gets her school marks back and they are good. She explains that although her
parents do not pressure her for grades, she wants to be a good pupil. The
headmaster of the Jewish Secondary School accepted her and her sister Margot
"conditionally" and she does not want to let him down. She mentions that her
father has been home a lot lately, "as there is nothing for him to do at business."
Her father tells her the disturbing news that he has been planning for them to go
into hiding for more than a year. Anne is horrified and asks why must he talk like
that. He replies that he and Mrs. Frank will take care of it all and there is no need
for her to be upset.
Section Two: July 8 to September 29, 1942
Summary:
The first line for Anne's entry of July 8 lets us know that something crucial has
happened: "Years seem to have passed between Sunday and now." At three o'clock
on Sunday afternoon, she was reading on the verandah, waiting for Harry to come
visit her. When the doorbell rings, she barely notices it. Her sister Margot comes to
her, very excited, and says that the SS has sent up a call notice for Mr. Frank. Anne
is instantly frightened--a call-up notice means "concentration camps and lonely
cells." Their mother has already gone to see Mr. Van Daan. The Van Daans will be
living with the Franks in their hiding place. The two girls sit quietly, lost in thought.
The doorbell rings again--Harry. Margot warns her sister not to go downstairs, but
Anne needs no such warning. Mrs. Frank and Mr. Van Daan go downstairs and talk
to Harry, then close the door and do not allow anyone else in. Mrs. Frank and Mr.
Van Daan send the two girls upstairs so they can talk alone. In the privacy of their
bedroom, Margot tells Anne that the call-up notice was for her, not for Mr. Frank.
Anne is horrified that the SS would call a sixteen-year-old girl alone. With questions
swirling in her head, she begins packing "the craziest things" into a school satchel
in preparation to go into hiding. At five o'clock Mr. Frank arrives, and the speed of
the preparations picks up. They leave the next morning, wearing layers and layers
of clothes. ("No Jew in our situation would have dreamed of going out with a
suitcase full of clothing," Anne explains.) Only Anne's cat is left behind.
They walk to their hiding place in the rain, and Mr. Frank explains that they were to
go into hiding on July 16 anyway, but had to speed up their relocation because of
the call-up. Anne describes their hiding place, the rooms on top of Mr. Frank's office
building, and adds a drawing. When they arrived, Margot and Mrs. Frank were too
miserable and depressed to do anything--it was up to Mr. Frank and Anne to clean
up the living area and unpack all the boxes. This they do, and Anne barely has time
to think for several days. When she does she talks about the clock, which disturbs
the others by striking every fifteen minutes, but comforts Anne. She is impressed
with the "Secret Annex," calling it "an ideal hiding place." However, all of the
Franks are nervous about being heard and restless about being cooped up for good.
A month later, Anne reports that little has been going on for her to report. The Van
Daans arrived on July 13. They had planned to come one day later, but the
Germans called up so many Jews between July 13-16 that they decided it was wise
to leave one day earlier rather than one day late. Their son, Peter, is almost
sixteen, "soft, shy, gawky," in Anne's estimation. Mr. Van Daan explains what
happened to their house. The cat was taken to a neighbor, and Mr. Van Daan went
to great lengths to spread false rumors about what had happened to the Franks.
Not all is well and good between the Franks and the Van Daans. They quarrel over
things big and small. The matriarchs of the family have differences over plates and
sheets; Anne cannot get along with Mr. Van Daan at all. Peter Van Daan had a fight
with his parents when he snatched a book that he was not allowed to read "on the
subject of women." Margot was also forbidden to read the book, but she left it
alone. When Mr. Van Daan caught Peter with the book, he was sent to bed without
dinner. Peter tried to threaten his parents by going in the chimney, but Mr. Van
Daan reprimanded him and eventually he went back to bed.
"School" begins again in September. Anne works at her French; Peter works at
English. Anne hears herself being discussed by the adults and they decide that she
is "not completely stupid after all," which has the effect of making her work twice
as hard. Anne worries that she has very few clothes for the winter. She also slaps
the book closed when Mrs. Van Daan walks in, as there is a particularly unflattering
description of her that Anne wishes to conceal. Anne is not getting along with any
of her family members at the moment, except for her father. Also, She and Mrs.
Van Daan do not get along. Mrs. Van Daan is always saying that Anne is spoiled
and tries to force her to eat more vegetables. They also have a "jolly good row"
over the matter of modesty in Anne. Anne is fed up with all the bickering and feels
that she has been forced to "swallow" insults.
The last entry of the month is a veritable ode to the pleasures of hot baths and
modern plumbing--both of which the Franks and the Van Daans have been forced
to live without in hiding. All of them have been forced to go to great lengths to
bathe in privacy and, when the plumber was at work, use the toilet.
Section Three: October 1, 1942 to November 28, 1942
Summary:
Anne opens her entry for October 1 by saying that she was terrified when the
doorbell rang--she thought it was the Gestapo. It was not, but there are other
fears. One of the employees, an older Jewish chemist, knows the building very well
and they are always afraid that he might take a notion to look in the annexe. Anne
is also frightened by the news she has heard from the outside: the Franks' Jewish
friends are being hauled away by the dozens. News of the German concentration
camps filters down to them, along with other atrocious German misdeeds. "Nice
people, the Germans!" huffs Anne. "To think that I was once one of them too!"
To distract herself from these woes, Anne keeps busy with her studies of French
and math and records the squabbles of the two families. She is annoyed with Mrs.
Van Daan for flirting with Mr. Frank, and unhappy about her relationship with her
mother. She and her sister are temporarily getting along and have agreed to read
each others' diaries.
On the night of October 20, all the residents have a scare. A carpenter comes to fill
the fire extinguishers and is hammering on the landing opposite their cupboard
door entrance. They settle down and try to be quiet as soon as they hear him, but
then he starts to knock on their door. Everyone goes white as he begins pushing at
the door to their secret annexe. Then they hear the voice of Mr. Koophius, one of
their protectors. He asks them to let them in, and they do immediately. On
Monday, Miep and her husband Henk spend the night in the annexe, which is an
amusing diversion for all the residents. At the end of October, Anne is worried
about her father. He falls ill and they cannot call a doctor for him, and if he coughs
he might give them away. She also notes that she is becoming more "grownup"--
her mother allows her to read a book that mentions prostitution, and she learns
about periods. (She longs for one, "it seems so important.")
On November 7, Anne reports at length a quarrel that happened between herself
and her family. Her parents took Margot's side when Margot and Anne fought over
a book, and Anne writes tearfully that she feels the pain of her father's judgement
all the more because her mother's love is not what Anne wishes it would be.
Fortunately, her father is feeling better, and a little festivity comes in the form of
Peter's sixteenth birthday. In addition, Anne is excited because both families have
agreed to take in an eighth person. They all sit down to decide who will "fit in well
with our Œfamily.'" They settle on Albert Dussel, an elderly dentist. He is excited to
have a hiding place, but insists on waiting to come for a couple of days until after
he has settled his accounts and treated a couple of patients. Anne is impatient and
perceives him as somewhat ungrateful.
Dussel eventually arrives. He is greatly surprised to see the Franks, as he had
heard that they were in Switzerland. They all laugh and tell him how they came to
be in the secret annexe, then give him a grand tour. The Van Daans have written a
funny list of "rules" advertising the Secret Annexe, which amuse everyone. Dussel
will share a room with Anne while Margot moves to the camp bed. Dussel is, as
Anne says, "a very nice man." He shares the tragic news from outside--many of
their friends have been taken away by the Germans, and every evening, as if on a
witch hunt, the Germans go in search of Jews. Anne feels "wicked sleeping in a
warm bed, while my dearest friends have been knocked down...all because they are
Jews!" At Dussel's news, a gloom settles over the whole annexe. Anne is upset but
decides that she cannot spend all her time upset.
Meanwhile they suffer under shortages of all types--a power shortage (they are not
allowed to use any power for a week) and a paper shortage among them. Anne
finds that Dussel has his faults; she calls him "a stodgy old-fashioned
disciplinarian."
Section Four: December 7, 1942 through June 13, 1943
Summary:
Chanuka and St. Nicholas Day are just one day apart, so the residents of the annex
have two small celebrations. For Chanuka, they give each other a few small gifts
and then, due to a shortage, light the candles for only ten minutes. St. Nicholas
Day is more festive; Miep and Elliconspire with Mr. Frank for the occasion. At night,
all the residents go downstairs and discover a large basket covered with a mask of
Black Peter and filled with presents.
The residents order a lot of meat which Mr. Van Daan makes into sausages. Mr.
Dussel opens a dental "practice" in the attic--a humorous episode follows with him
treating Mrs. Van Daan's toothaches. Although Anne finds him funny at times, she
is annoyed at his fussiness and his habit of "shushing" her at night. Anne comments
on the people in the neighborhood she lives in--the children, she says, are "real
slum kids." She frets over how "terrible" it is outside: children are being separated
from their families, the Dutch are losing their sons to the Germans, and the Jews
are being rounded up and taken away. Jews, Gentiles, women, men--everyone,
Anne says, is miserably waiting for the end.
Still, all of that seems further away than what is going on in the annex. Anne feels
as though she is mistreated and misunderstood by all the people around her. She
complains of being name-called and disrespected. She remarks that it took Mr.
Dussel some time to get used to the quarrels of the household. Anne's father is
expecting the invasion at any moment. Churchill is recovering in England; Ghandi is
fasting in India. Meanwhile, the owner of the building has sold it without telling
Koophius and Kraler--when new owners come by to look at the building, Koophius
has to pretend he has forgotten the key to the annexe. This brings a new fears for
the residents. There is a butter shortage, which leads to rationing at the table.
At night, the residents cower from the gunfire. They cannot light candles or turn on
the light. Anne creeps into her father's bed for comfort. Rats have infested the
attic; one night Peter is bitten. Anne is growing--she can't find a pair of shoes to fit
her for longer than a week. There is great excitement in Amsterdam when it is
announced that Turkey has joined the war on England's side. The whole annex gets
a scare when they hear fumbling downstairs; they imagine it is a burglary.
Fortunately, they only end up scaring each other and find little evidence of a
burglar.
Mr. Frank is distraught that he cannot take part in important business discussions
downstairs; he gets Anne and Margot to help him eavesdrop. Quarrels continue
among everyone, and Anne laments that they are living better than most other
Jews and still cannot get along. There is a radio announcement that all Jews must
be "cleaned out" of all German territories by July 1. Students who do not declare
sympathy with the Germans are not allowed to continue their studies for the year.
(Eighty percent refuse to sign and are at risk of being sent to a labor camp.) The
only bright spot is that sabotage and strikes are starting to affect the Germans in
Holland.
Anne's birthday comes again; the festivities are greatly subdued in comparison to
last year. Nonetheless, she is happy, she is "spoiled" with sweets and her father
writes her a poem in German, which Margot translates into Dutch.
Section Five: June 15, 1943 through December 6, 1943
Summary:
One of their Dutch helpers, Mr. Vossen, was supposed to have an ulcer operation,
but the doctors realized that he had cancer and was too far gone for them to help.
This is sad news for everyone in the annex, they will be losing a good helper and
friend. Anne is trying to be "helpful, friendly, and good" to everyone in the annex.
She has stopped studying shorthand and worries about her near-sightedness. She
and Margot do office work for Elli, one of their helpers. Anne politely asks Mr.
Dussel if she can use the table in their bedroom to study two afternoons a week.
Dussel refuses, claiming that his work is more important than Anne's. Seething,
Anne asks her father for advice, and after he intervenes, Dussel gives in.
There is a real burglary on July 16--the thieves take cash and sugar ration coupons.
The bombing continues--Anne says that "whole streets lie in ruins." Meanwhile the
bombing and destruction continues, setting everyone's nerves on edge. While all of
this is going on, Anne describes what everyone's first wish will be once they get out
of hiding. Then, she decides to tell her diary about an average day in hiding. Over a
period of days she breaks down the daily routine of the annex residents: bedtime,
breakfast, lunch, evening recreation, potato peeling, etc. She details everyone's
actions with humor, making sure to skewer the residents she does not particularly
like.
Outside, the political news is good. Italy's Fascist party is banned, signaling internal
discord. The country surrenders to the Allied Powers on September 8. While this is
good for the long term of the war, life in Holland is still strict: Dussel endangers
their lives by asking Miep to bring him a book that was banned by the Germans,
and Mr. Koophius has to go to the hospital for an abdominal operation and long
recovery.
Interpersonal relations are not going well in the annex: Anne is taking Valerian pills
for depression, the Van Daans have run out of money, and their few protectors who
are not ill are overstressed. The adults quarrel incessantly, while Anne tries to
shake herself out of her depression. She has no appetite and wanders the annex
aimlessly, "feeling like a songbird whose wings have been clipped and who is
hurling himself...against the bars of his cage." Mr. Frank tries to give the girls new
things to do: he orders Latin lessons for Margot and tries to get a children's Bible
for Anne so she can learn something of the New Testament.
Anne notes that her diary entries are written in a variety of different moods; she
feels dependent on the atmosphere. Right now, she admits that she is "going
through a spell of being depressed" and berates herself as being "a coward." But
her fears continue, she writes that the annex is "a little piece of blue heaven,
surrounded by heavy black rain clouds...gather[ing] more closely about us." A
cheerful spot comes in the form of an entry that she writes as an ode to her
fountain pen, a prized possession of hers which was accidentally melted in the
stove. But then she has a bad dream about her childhood friend, Lies. She imagines
her "clothed in rags," and begging Anne to help her. Anne mourns that she cannot,
and feels guilty for all of her blessings while others are suffering.
Dussel is acting "very put out." He does not even thank the Franks or the Van
Daans on the one-year anniversary of his arrival in the annex. Meanwhile, Elli
cannot come to help them for six weeks because of a diptheria outbreak in her
home. St. Nicholas Day is certain to be less plentiful than last year--but Anne,
determined to make something festive out of the occasion, begins composing
poems for each person with the help of her father. They gather everyone's shoes
and put them in a large basket, then cover it with paper as a surprise. When
everyone is shocked at the size of the package, Anne reads a funny poem about
how times are hard but that festive "spirit" remains.
Section Six: December 22, 1943 through February 13, 1944
Summary:
Anne gets the flu. She tries all sorts of cures and is embarrassed when Dussel lies
on her "naked chest" and listens to her heart. The household receives nice
Christmas presents from their protectors, but Anne feels jealous of them because
they can go outside and still enjoy many things she cannot. She feels "a great
longing to have lots of fun myself for once." Morale, she adds, is "rotten" as the war
is at a standstill. Anne also contemplates her father and "the love of his youth." She
adds, in a restrained way, that she understands him better now than she used to
and admires his patience and his good qualities. She is also shocked at the number
of times she has spoken badly of her mother in her diary. She "soothes her
conscience" by thinking that the words are on paper rather than in her mother's
memory.
Anne becomes "very unhappy" when she thinks of her Granny (her mother's
mother) and her friend Lies. She contemplates Granny's kindess and courage in the
face of suffering, and she wonders if Lies is still alive. She notes that her belief in
God is not strong enough.
While she feels that she has a better understanding of her mother, Anne notes that
there are many changes going on within herself. Her body is changing--she now
gets her period and feels "ecstasies" at the sight of a female nude. She confesses
that she once felt a "strong desire" to kiss a female friend and wondered about the
mysteries of her friend's body. She longs for a girl friend, but there is no one, and
wants so badly to confide in someone that she tries to talk to Peter. She dreams
of Peter Wessel, imagining his cheek against hers, and notes that she has very vivid
dreams. When she prays, she says, she prays for all "Jews and those in need."
Anne explains her longing for Peter Wessel by telling her diary the history of
"myself and all my boy friends." She had childhood crushes, she explains, but none
of them were serious until she fell in love with Peter Wessel, an older boy. She calls
him her "helper" in the annex when she is going through tough times and thinks of
him often. It helps her look more lightly on the adults' quarrels, which continue
with regularity.
One day, Peter shows Anne the cat, Boche. He shows Anne the "male organs" so
nonchalantly that Anne quickly gets over her embarressment. She is impressed that
he can talk about such things without getting flustered.
Boredom still reigns in the annex. Anne notes that she has to hear the same stories
over and over again from the residents. Not only do they repeat their own stories
over and over again, but they regurgitate the stories that their Dutch helpers relate
over and over again. Anne applauds their Dutch helpers. Not only are they risking
their lives for the Jews in the annex, but she says they "display heroism in their
cheerfulness and affection." Politics are a big topic of discussion, especially the
threat of an invasion. Meanwhile, Anne confides, she is "longing--so longing--for
everything!"
Section Seven: February 13, 1944 through March 19, 1944
Summary:
"Since Saturday a lot has changed for me," writes Anne, and what has changed,
she notes, is Peter. He is looking at her in a new way, "to my great joy." This is a
pleasant surprise as she had once believed Peter was in love with Margot. They
begin to seek each other out and confide in each other. Peter tells her how he has
difficulty expressing himself verbally and used to beat people up when he was
angry, rather than arguing. Peter tells her that he will hide his Jewish ancestry
when the war is over; his "tinge of honesty" disappoints Anne. She feels that he is
insecure and needs affection.
Soon Anne is Anne finding excuses to go upstairs where the Van Daans stay, and
crying when she does not get the opportunity to speak to him. She insists that she
is not in love, but her mother has been looking at her "queerly" and warns that she
must not bother Peter. Still, she goes to the attic where he works nearly every
morning. She admits that "I really do hardly anything else but think of Peter," and
makes lists of the things they have in common. For her,Peter Van Daan and Peter
Wessel "have grown into one Peter, who is beloved and good."
There is another burglary, with complications this time. The intruder had a skeleton
key or a duplicate and did not have to force his way inside. Plus, he was scared off
when he heard Mr. Van Daan. This is unfortunate for the residents of the annex,
because that person may report them. It would be especially unfortunate if the
burglar is one of the warehouse workers.
Anne continues to get frustrated with the adults in the annex. She feels as though
Peter is the one bright light in her life, and they spend a great deal of time
together. She wonders what Peter feels about her and admits that her feelings are
growing more serious. The others notice how much time the two of them are
spending together, of course. Mrs. Van Daan teases Anne, asking if it's all right to
trust the two of them alone together.
March 7 is an important diary entry. Anne summarizes her opinion about her
development in the annex from the first days until the present. On the whole, she is
quite pleased with herself. She feels as though she has managed to overcome
many emotional diffculties to become the young woman she is. She also discusses
her sister, Margot, in a new way. Instead of talking about what a good girl she is,
she says that Margot lacks the "nonchalance" for deep discussions and takes things
too seriously.
Life in the annex continues to be hard. The people who sold them illegal food
coupons were caught, so there are no fats in the house and little food besides. The
adults are on edge about food and politics. All of their protectors except Mr.
Kraler are troubled by illness, and Mr. Kraler was "called up" to go digging. He is
later exempted by the court. Still, Anne pines for Peter and wonders if her chatter
bothers him. She notes that "the brightest spot of all" is that she can still write
down her feelings. She is annoyed that the others in the annex still attempt to
restrict her behavior and conduct-- "we are treated as children over outward things,
and we are much older than most girls of our age inwardly." When Peter tells her
that she is a great help to him, Anne is overcome with joy.
Section Eight: March 20, 1944 through April 25, 1944
Summary:
Anne and Peter continue their close relationship; now Peter comes downstairs to
visit Anne as well as she going upstairs to visit him. Anne worries that Margot may
be jealous of her relationship with Peter. She and Margot exchange letters talking
about their feelings. Margot isn't jealous of Anne's relationship with Peter, but she
is jealous that Anne has someone to talk to and she does not. Peter invites Margot
upstairs with Anne to join them in their discussions.
Outside, the war continues. A plane crash near their building surprises and
frightens everyone. Burglaries and theft are commonplace throughout the city. To
her own boredom, Anne includes one whole entry on the subject of politics and
talks about the way they all sit around the radio for Sunday evening programming.
She notes that "[p]olitics can't do much more harm to the parents!" But she notes
with glee that things are going well on the Russian front.
Mrs. Frank forbids Anne to go upstairs so often, claiming that Mrs. Van Daan is
jealous. Anne is annoyed and a serious critique of both the mothers follows. Then,
on March 29, Anne writes that an exiled Dutch government minister has announced
that after the war they ought to make a collection of diaries and letters. Anne is
excited at the thought and believes that it would be interesting if she wrote a novel
about the secret annex.
Food is short in the annex. They go through "food cycles" where they only eat one
type of food--right now they are in the midst of a "bean cycle" and there are no
vegetables available. Anne is in the midst of emotional turmoil and describes how
she cried a great deal alone one night. She is also concerned about her future. She
wants to be a writer and talks about some of the stories she has written. "I want to
go on living even after my death!" she exclaims, and thanks God for giving her a
literary gift. She also talks about her other hobbies, including history and
mythology.
On April 11 another burglary occurs. The men go downstairs to investigate and
scare the burglars away by shouting "Police!" but this only draws attention to them.
A married couple shine a flashlight into the warehouse and the men run upstairs.
For days they all huddle upstairs, waiting for the Gestapo to come and take them
away. The adults contemplate destroying evidence such as the radio and Anne's
diary. Anne responds with fury at the latter suggestion. She rages out at the
situation she and her family have been placed in, demanding "Who has inflicted this
upon us! Who has made us Jews different from other people!"
Fortunately, Miep and her husband Henk come to visit them before the police come
by in response to the burglary. Their kindness inspires Anne; she says that she
wants to become a Dutch citizen after the war.
The burglary strains the atmosphere in the annex. The adults are upset. Peter
forgets to unbolt the lock on the door to the warehouse, locking the workers out
and almost getting them in a tremendous amount of trouble. But Anne is happy
because she finally gets a kiss from Peter. Although she knows her family would not
approve, she feels that she is mature for her age and can handle his affections.
There is more trouble with the warehouse workers downstairs and Dussel refuses to
speak to the Van Daans.
Section Nine: April 27, 1944 through August 1, 1944
Summary:
Anne is reading a number of history books; she discusses them in detail in her
diary. She and Peter are more emotionally intimate than ever, but Anne admits
with disappointment that she could never marry him; he "hasn't enough character
yet." She and Peter agree that she should discuss their relationship with her father.
She does, and her father says that it is not a good idea for them to carry on a
relationship in the house. Anne, he says, must be the one to show restraint as she
is the woman. Meanwhile Dussel has apologized to the Van Daans.
Anne despairs about the war, wondering what the point of it all is. She thinks that
"the little man is just as guilty" as the big politicians and businessmen, because
"otherwise the peoples of the world would have risen in revolt a long time ago!"
Despite her despair, she is confident that the invasion is coming soon. Her father
reprimands her for going upstairs too often; in return she writes him a letter. In the
letter she explains that she has been tormented by loneliness since she moved into
the annex and hinting that he did nothing to help her with her loneliness. They
have a long talk and her father is very upset. Anne feels ashamed and vows to
improve her character.
Anne tells her diary her parents' biographies. Both Mr. and Mrs. Frank came from
rich families and tell grand stories about wealth and privilege. "One could certainly
not call us rich now," Anne says, "but all my hopes are pinned on after the war."
She then writes again about her desire to be a famous writer and mentions that she
wants to publish a book called "The Secret Annex"; she expects her diary to be of
great help to her in this regard.
Her father's birthday comes and goes; the Franks have been married nineteen
years. On May 20, Mr. Frank loses five bottles of yogurt to Mrs. Van Daan. They
had made a bet regarding the date of the invasion. Anne contemplates the
differences of Dutch and English responsibilit, and notes with disappointment that
anti-Semitism has grown among the Dutch population. She wonders why people
feel this way, "is the Jew once again worth less than another?" Their vegetable man
is arrested for hiding Jews in his attic, another blow. Fresh fears bloom among the
residents. Anne wonders if it would not have been better for all of them to have not
gone into hiding, "if we were all dead now and not going through this misery."
On June 6, the D-Day invasion finally comes. This excites everyone and Anne dares
to wonder if they might be liberated that year, 1944. Margot says that she and
Anne may be able to go back to school in September. Anne records new
developments in the invasion with great excitement. Her fifteenth birthday passes,
and she is feeling happier. She talks about her relationship with Peter, noting that
although they are not like lovers they have a deep emotional bond. She also writes
about her love for nature; wondering if she feels the pull of the clouds and the trees
so strongly because she cannot go outside.
The invasion goes along well, even though for three weeks the troops have been
operating in heavy rains. Anne is concerned about Peter; she believes him "weak"
and notes that it is very difficult to be completely in someone's confidence. She
then thanks God for her own strength of character, and is grateful that, unlike
Peter, she feels religion deeply. July 15 is another important entry; Anne goes in-
depth about herself and what she believes. She talks about her parents and admits
that she has pushed her father away from her. She also says, that it's "really a
wonder that I haven't dropped all my ideals, because they seem so absurd and so
impossible to carry out." She keeps them, she says, "because in spite of everything
I still believe that people are really good at heart."
The war continues to turn in the Allies' favor. On July 21, Anne writes that an
attempt has been made on Hitler's life by a German general. In her last entry, on
August 1, Anne talks again about how there are "two Annes," the public Anne and
the private Anne. She wonders what she could be like "if...there weren't any other
people living in the world."