Diary Of Anne Frank Essay

Countless Jewish people and families were driven into hiding during the Second World War as Nazi Germany and its principles raged through Europe, and the Frank family was no different. They, along with the Van Daan family and Mr. Dussel, a dentist, took up residence in the “Secret Annex”. When Anne Frank, the Franks’ youngest daughter, first went into hiding along with her family, she was 13 and Peter Van Daan, the Van Daans’ son, was 15. Though they were not friends when they first met each other (and in fact both disliked each other), Anne, who felt outcast by her family and insulted by the attacks on her character by various members of the Annex, longed for companionship and a true friend in whom she could confide her troubles. She …show more content…
For much of Anne’s diary, neither she or Peter find the other interesting and even find the other irritating. Driven by her longing for Peter Schiff, Anne becomes determined to make Peter her friend, and over the course of a few months near the end of the diary they grow close and fall in love, a relationship that makes the two of them happy and helps them to cope with life in the Annex, but only briefly. Anne ultimately decides that Peter is somewhat disappointing and needs to learn to stand on his own instead of clinging only to her. Anne’s deep and unchanged love for Peter Schiff asserts its influence over all of the stages, turning her loneliness into longing for Peter and morphing Peter Van Daan and Peter Schiff into one person in Anne’s mind. Their entire relationship is defined by Anne’s love for Peter Schiff, and not for Peter Van Daan--it is what brings them together, and what causes Anne disappointment in the end. In conclusion, Anne and Peter Van Daan’s relationship developed through three stages of mutual disinterest, affection and intimacy, and disappointment during their time in the Annex, but all three stages were affected by Anne’s love for Peter