Diary Themes
Anne Frank has a lot to say and she said it with a maturity that was beyond her tender years. This section of the website explores some of the most important Themes found in the Diary of Anne Frank.
Identity
Identity in Anne Frank’s case means “a condition or character as to who a person is.” As a teenager, we constantly ask ourselves the question “Who am I?” Anne Frank was thirteen when she got the diary and she asked the very same question.
Identity is an important theme in Anne’s diary because it shows that through all the turmoil going on in her life she was still a regular teenager. On March 7, 1944, she talks about who she was when she got the diary compared to who she became while in the “Secret Annexe.” Anne says, “It was a quite different Anne who enjoyed heavenly existence from the Anne who has grown wise within these walls.” She says that she was spoiled rotten and was a terrible flirt and jokester. Industrious, honest and frank are the words she used to describe the old Anne. She portrayed confidence and certainty as we all did, but the “Secret Annexe” changed her in a good way. Anne learned the error of her ways and grew up. Though the change was painful for her, she tried every day to be the same carefree, gay Anne from before. She felt lonely and disconnected from everyone in a more mental way. Anne tells that things got better in the second half of 1943. Anne became a woman and was treated as such, but her happiness was short lived. Anne began to feel like she couldn’t trust anyone not even her father. Her resentment against her mother continued through the year, but her love for Peter lifted her spirits until her very last entry. On August 1, 1944, she ends her diary with “a bundle of contradictions, her “bundle of contradictions” within herself. Anne’s true self was a wise but a shy woman while her everyday Anne was witty and unafraid. Her daily life was a contradiction or battle within herself. We teenagers do this a lot. Though Anne didn’t live long enough to know her identity, she seemed satisfied with the fact that she is all that she needs to be.
Identity is an important theme in Anne’s diary because it shows that through all the turmoil going on in her life she was still a regular teenager. On March 7, 1944, she talks about who she was when she got the diary compared to who she became while in the “Secret Annexe.” Anne says, “It was a quite different Anne who enjoyed heavenly existence from the Anne who has grown wise within these walls.” She says that she was spoiled rotten and was a terrible flirt and jokester. Industrious, honest and frank are the words she used to describe the old Anne. She portrayed confidence and certainty as we all did, but the “Secret Annexe” changed her in a good way. Anne learned the error of her ways and grew up. Though the change was painful for her, she tried every day to be the same carefree, gay Anne from before. She felt lonely and disconnected from everyone in a more mental way. Anne tells that things got better in the second half of 1943. Anne became a woman and was treated as such, but her happiness was short lived. Anne began to feel like she couldn’t trust anyone not even her father. Her resentment against her mother continued through the year, but her love for Peter lifted her spirits until her very last entry. On August 1, 1944, she ends her diary with “a bundle of contradictions, her “bundle of contradictions” within herself. Anne’s true self was a wise but a shy woman while her everyday Anne was witty and unafraid. Her daily life was a contradiction or battle within herself. We teenagers do this a lot. Though Anne didn’t live long enough to know her identity, she seemed satisfied with the fact that she is all that she needs to be.
Family
Anne Frank’s family relationship was unlike any other.
Their family went through more than others do in a lifetime, from being a
regular and normal Jewish family in Germany, to living in the secret annex for
two years.
Anne’s parents, Otto and Edith’s family lived in Germany for centuries, they both were
Jewish and German. They were married on May 12, 1925. After honeymooning in
Italy they moved in with Otto’s mother. On February 16, 1926 their first
daughter, Margot Betti was born. About a year later they moved to a quiet
neighborhood where Annelies Marie was born on June 12, 1929. Anne’s early years,
were pleasant. She had an older sister Margot, and her mother Edith and her
father Otto Frank. They were like any other family; her and her sister went to a
public school and played with the neighborhood kids. Margot and Anne had their
occasional arguments, just like any other sisters. When Anne was a young girl
her father moved the family to the Netherlands for a business he worked making
jam products. In April 1934 She attended a Montessori kindergarten in Holland.
Anne didn’t really have any close friends when she was a young girl, so she used
her diary “Kitty” as her person to talk to. Her mother and father were great
parents, they wanted what was best for their family, and would do anything to
protect them.
Anne Frank’s family relationship was stronger than most. From living with grandma, to living
in an attic for two years not being able to step outside. They had a strong
family bond and would do anything for each other.
Their family went through more than others do in a lifetime, from being a
regular and normal Jewish family in Germany, to living in the secret annex for
two years.
Anne’s parents, Otto and Edith’s family lived in Germany for centuries, they both were
Jewish and German. They were married on May 12, 1925. After honeymooning in
Italy they moved in with Otto’s mother. On February 16, 1926 their first
daughter, Margot Betti was born. About a year later they moved to a quiet
neighborhood where Annelies Marie was born on June 12, 1929. Anne’s early years,
were pleasant. She had an older sister Margot, and her mother Edith and her
father Otto Frank. They were like any other family; her and her sister went to a
public school and played with the neighborhood kids. Margot and Anne had their
occasional arguments, just like any other sisters. When Anne was a young girl
her father moved the family to the Netherlands for a business he worked making
jam products. In April 1934 She attended a Montessori kindergarten in Holland.
Anne didn’t really have any close friends when she was a young girl, so she used
her diary “Kitty” as her person to talk to. Her mother and father were great
parents, they wanted what was best for their family, and would do anything to
protect them.
Anne Frank’s family relationship was stronger than most. From living with grandma, to living
in an attic for two years not being able to step outside. They had a strong
family bond and would do anything for each other.
Isolation
Have you ever felt isolated? The definition of isolation is “To place apart; to be alone.” The word lonely almost has the same definition of isolation. The word lonely means “Standing apart; isolated.” Anne was a lonely teenager. Being a teenager alone can make you feel isolated physically and mentally. Not having very many friends or trying to fit in can make life feel lonely. Anne Frank didn’t have many friends. She was thirteen years old when she started writing in her diary. She named her diary Kitty. Anne treated her diary as if it was her best friend. She wrote in it all the time, when she was happy or lonely. She talked to the diary the same way she would talk to a best friend. When Anne was living in the attic (the “Secret Annexe”) in hiding, it was an isolated environment for her family and the other people living there. They felt secluded in an Anti-Jew city because they were Jews. Everyone living in the Secret Annexe felt anxious and lonely because of the circumstances in which they lived. Living in the attic was very fearful because they were worried about being caught and killed. The residents in the attic had to keep quiet so they wouldn’t get killed. This made living in the Secret Annexe isolated from the rest of society. People living in the Secret Annexe kept their feelings to themselves so they wouldn’t bother the other people living in the attic resulting in more isolation and misunderstanding. Just living in the Secret Annexe made them have a negative mind. On November 20th, 1942, Anne writes, “Now I either think about unhappy things or about myself.” You can see it was unhappy living in the Secret Annexe. While Anne was living in a negative environment, she thought of a positive quote, “Think of all the beauty around you and be happy.” Two years later, as Anne was still isolated from the rest of the world, she wrote in her diary on January 22nd, “Can you tell me why people go to such lengths to hide their real selves?” She realized that she is not the only one hiding her true self. She started taking a deeper look in other peoples’ lives. Isolation played a huge part in Anne’s diary.
Youth
The definition of youth is “The period of time between growing up from childhood into adulthood.” In the diary, Anne talks about her youth. She goes through what all teens go through, though she is not in any normal household or in any normal time for that matter. In the entry of June 20, 1942, Anne states that she has many friends, which is important with most teens today, and a whole line of boyfriends. Teens usually try to find out who they are and what group of people they belong in, so having many friends can determine what that teen likes by doing what their friends like. In the entry of October 3, 1942, trials of adolescence are shown clearly in Anne. She also feels quite overwhelmed due to the fact that she, her family, and the Van Daan’s were all crowded into the attic together; under these conditions, absolutely no one had privacy. Anyone in Anne’s situation is sure to become quite troubled at the idea of being trapped in an attic for a couple of years, especially if they had no privacy. In the entry of January 15, 1944, Anne believes that the war is making her grow old, even though she is still just a teenager. The quote by Anne is as follows: “…, but I also believe that if I stay here for very long I shall grow into a dried-up old beanstalk.” We see here that Anne thinks her carefree life as a teenager will be over if she stays hiding in the attic due to the war. Before her family went into the Secret Annexe, Anne thought she was in the prime of her life; but then, allowing her pessimistic thoughts creep in, Anne then believes she has grown old and would never feel young again. During a teenager’s life, they go through signs of adolescence. Many of the entries deal with this. On the entry of January 2, 1944, Anne is going through a mental awareness. She begins to object her own behavior and desires that she could act differently. Most, if not all, teens go through this; they look back at what they have done and they begin to reject themselves. Youth, in the diary, is a key aspect in Anne’s life and in a literary context.
Relationships
Anne Frank had various relationships throughout this novel. She went through countless complications and destitutions. Anne had a special connection with her diary. As an individual, she was not sparse on details because the diary was not supposed to be read or discussed. It was “One of the most moving personal documents to come out of World War II,” (– The Philadelphia Inquirer). It was meant to stay personal and original for Anne. She poured out her thoughts as a young human being in the diary. Anne had a relationship with the diary and named it “Kitty.” She thought of it as a friend, somebody she can talk to and respect. Even though she was the age of thirteen when she received the diary, she felt alone in the world. Anne was a captivating young person who just wanted her thoughts down on paper. Since she was isolated in the “Secret Annexe,” she was often bored and irritated by not going outside and being able to do activities. Anne would put down the simplest thoughts in the diary as if she was talking to a much loved friend.
Anne Frank had a simple but sophisticated relationship with her family. Her older sister Margot never really had much of a good relationship with Anne. They fought a little but really didn’t have much of an intimate relationship. Anne and her father had a very special relationship. Anne adored and loved her father very much. When Anne grew older and matured, she grew distant from her father. Anne still loved him, but didn’t feel the connection like she once did. Anne and her mother were a very different story. Anne always quarreled with her mother. Anne would write down dreadful and hateful things about her mother in her diary. She would walk away mumbling things under her breath after a disagreement. No matter how much they argued or fought, they still loved each other. Anne didn’t have much of a relationship with her other relatives.
When it came to romantic relationships, Anne thought of herself as irresistible. Anne would flaunt and parade herself in front of the boys. She always thought everybody wanted her for her looks and for how intellectual she was. Anne was somewhat self-centered about the whole idea of “romance,” but she didn’t really expect someone was going to read about her opinion of herself.
Anne had friends and acquaintances before she was locked up in the Secret Annexe. Peter was a fairly respectful friend to Anne, but not somebody with whom she could pour out her deepest, darkest secrets. She never really had a true best friend. The diary was the closest thing to that. Anne was almost in complete solitude when she was kept in the Annexe. She was depressed and trying to find herself as a young woman in the midst of terror and hiding. Anne almost seemed to give up on herself when she in the Annexe. She was a strong girl seemed to never give up.
Anne Frank had a simple but sophisticated relationship with her family. Her older sister Margot never really had much of a good relationship with Anne. They fought a little but really didn’t have much of an intimate relationship. Anne and her father had a very special relationship. Anne adored and loved her father very much. When Anne grew older and matured, she grew distant from her father. Anne still loved him, but didn’t feel the connection like she once did. Anne and her mother were a very different story. Anne always quarreled with her mother. Anne would write down dreadful and hateful things about her mother in her diary. She would walk away mumbling things under her breath after a disagreement. No matter how much they argued or fought, they still loved each other. Anne didn’t have much of a relationship with her other relatives.
When it came to romantic relationships, Anne thought of herself as irresistible. Anne would flaunt and parade herself in front of the boys. She always thought everybody wanted her for her looks and for how intellectual she was. Anne was somewhat self-centered about the whole idea of “romance,” but she didn’t really expect someone was going to read about her opinion of herself.
Anne had friends and acquaintances before she was locked up in the Secret Annexe. Peter was a fairly respectful friend to Anne, but not somebody with whom she could pour out her deepest, darkest secrets. She never really had a true best friend. The diary was the closest thing to that. Anne was almost in complete solitude when she was kept in the Annexe. She was depressed and trying to find herself as a young woman in the midst of terror and hiding. Anne almost seemed to give up on herself when she in the Annexe. She was a strong girl seemed to never give up.