The Changes Of Anne Frank In Her Diary

Two years can feel like an eternity. Throughout her time in hiding, Anne Frank changes in her level of maturity, her family relationships, and her ideas about romance. Anne describes her changes in many ways, over the two years, as she writes in her diary. Some of these changes can be described as “growth. ” Anne’s change in maturity is in her diary as she becomes a more perceptive observer of politics, human nature, and by becoming a very practiced and well-educated writer. Many of her diary entries suggest that her mind had matured past her years. In the beginning of Anne’s diary, which starts at June 12th, 1942, Anne wrote about her typical girlhood experiences. Some of experiences were about her friendships with other girls, her crushes on boys, and her academic performance at school. She was an immature, yet an ordinary girl back then. Anne begins to mature considerably throughout her diary entries, moving from detailed accounts of basic activities to deeper, more profound thoughts about humanity and her own personal nature.

Throughout the story when she starts writing with more developed, profound thoughts, her fractured relationship with her mom makes her rethink about parenting. As the diary entries continue, she treats her mother horribly not realizing the effect it had on her. She soon realizes how badly she had treated her mother. Later, in the dairy it reveals a letter which she had wrote to her father on her relationship with Peter. This letter shows her expression of individuality and freedom. In addition, Anne's family relationships change as she matures. At the beginning of the diary Anne was close to her parents, and loves both, but seeks comfort and knowledge from her father over her mother. During her time in the Secret Annex, Anne starts to lash out at her mother, partly because of her being a normal teenage girl and partly due to their circumstance. As she lashes out she starts to make her mother feel grim. Being constrained in an attic with the same people for little over two years would certainly take a toll on a person mind and actions. Anne and her father have a unique relationship. They are both intellectual, and through their school lessons, Anne comes to have a deeper level of respect for Otto rather than Edith (her mother).

Throughout her diary she describes her relationship with parents and states that she isn’t close with her mother at all. One of Anne’s entries state that,' I simply can’t stand Mother, and I have to force myself not to snap at her all the time…” (1942, Oct. 3 ). Anne also says that there is nothing about her mother that is actually motherly, and often wishes she could have a caring, warm mother to turn to, by stating,” In spite all my theories, and however much trouble I take, each day I miss having a mother who understands me. That’s why with everything I do and write I think of the “Mumsie” that I want to be for my children later on. The “Mumsie” who doesn’t take everything that is said in general conversation too seriously, but who does take what I say seriously. I have noticed, though I can’t explain how, that the word “Mumsie” tells you everything. (1943, Dec. 24).

Anne sees her father as a kindred spirit and adores him, but Anne occasionally voices her concern that her father doesn't recognize her for the mature young woman she feels herself to be and he treats her differently compared to her sister. She says:” I model myself after Father, and there's no one in the world I love more. He doesn't realize that he treats Margot differently than he does me: Margot just happens to be the smartest, the kindest, the prettiest and the best. But I have a right to be taken seriously too…I'm no longer satisfied with the meaningless affection or the supposedly serious talks. I long for something from Father that he's incapable of giving…It's just that I'd like to feel that Father really loves me, not because I'm his child, but because I’m me, Anne. ” (1943, Oct. 30). Anne turned out to be right to some extent: her father didn't realize the depth of her emotion or maturity.

Finally, Anne has developed different ideas about romance as she and Peter become better acquainted. At the beginning of her diary Anne says that Peter is lazy and has a weak character. He’s also shy and extremely awkward, hardly a person worth her notice. But after a year and a half after they’ve been in hiding, Anne suddenly starts to notice that Peter looks at her with longing. Soon she has a crush on him, and decides that he is very sweet and desperately in need of affection,” … I think, Kitty, that true love may be developing in the Annex. All those jokes about marrying Peter if we stayed here long enough weren’t so silly after all. Not that I’m thinking of marrying him, mind you. I don’t even know what he’ll be like when he grows up. Or if we’ll even love each other enough to get married. ” (1944, March 22)

But Anne soon is disappointed with Peter, making this teenage romance like so many others. He doesn’t like religion and he is too lazy and weak to improve himself. He seems satisfied with mediocrity and takes the easy path in life rather than one of work and personal growth. He also either isn’t as deep as she wanted him to be or he doesn’t know how to open himself up to her. Anne also realizes that the romance was a byproduct of loneliness and Peter wasn’t who she thought he was, Anne says this by stating: “I know very well that he was my conquest, and not the other way around. I created an image of him in my mind, pictured him as a quiet, sweet, sensitive boy badly in need of friendship and love! I needed to pour out my heart to a living person. I wanted a friend who would help me find my way again. I accomplished what I set out to do and drew him, slowly but surely, toward me. When I finally got him to be my friend, it automatically developed into an intimacy that, when I think about it now, seems outrageous. ” (1944, July 15). In conclusion, two years can sometimes feel like an eternity. Anne changed a lot during the two years she was in hiding. At the beginning of her diary she was just like any other 13-year-old girl, but as she gets older, Anne matures to become an independent young lady. Anne Frank changes in her level of maturity, view on her family relationships and ideas about romance.