Anne Frank (critical about play)
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
In this guide entry I am going to examine the developing tensions between the characters in the Diary of Anne Frank in order to discover how the characters' relationships became stronger and weaker and the different causes of their troubles. The Diary of Anne Frank is set during the Second World War and tells the story of two Jewish families driven into hiding at the outbreak of war.
In 1942 the Franks and the VanDaans went into hiding in a small annex above Otto Frank's business. This was a very cramped place to live, especially for many years, and after the arrival of Mr. Dussel a Jewish dentist, the conditions became even more unbearable. Naturally these cramped conditions made relationships between the characters difficult. They were cooped up together with no fresh air or privacy and were never able to go out.
Tremendous tension was also caused by the continuous worry of not knowing if they would be caught and in that event, what would happen to Meip, Mr. Kraler (the Dutch friends and work colleges of Mr. Frank who brought food, books and other supplies to the families) and the two families, especially as they never knew who they could or couldn't trust to keep their secret. This was a great strain on all the characters and this is brought to life by these stage directions early on in the play:
Mr. Frank "is about to blow out the candle when suddenly there is a crash of something falling below. They all freeze in horror, motionless. For a few seconds there is complete silence."
The crash was caused by a burglar trying to steal goods from the office below. Although this has never been proven this may have contributed to their capture, but it certainly made the constant fear of being betrayed even greater. The crash causes panic and arguing and Peter almost hits his father, only Mr. Frank's song for Hanukkah finally calms everyone down.
Health was another obvious source of tension among the group. They all knew that illnesses needed to be cured even before the symptoms had a proper chance to take hold: "You know we can't call a doctor here, ever." Says Mrs. Frank. Even the health of Mr. Kraler and Meip was important as without them supplies would be cut and their meager, monotonous diet would soon become even worse.
The war itself was also a huge source of tension and concern as being able to hear the bombs and troubles outside, but not being able to see them, made everyone feel on edge. It causes arguments also, Anne shouts at her mother "You grown-ups have had your chance!.. It isn't our fault that the world is in such a mess!"
All these sources of tension were a problem, but the most permanent form of tension was caused by the characters' personalities and their reactions to the different problems in the play and to each other. The two families are very different and this makes the situation even worse. Anne's love of life and the way she expresses herself cause attitudes towards her to change throughout the play, such as her only wanting her father and pushing her mother away as soon as she tries to get close. Peter is a shy teenager who tends to confine himself to his small room and to start with he is wary of everyone and prevents problems by staying out of peoples way. Margot is a quiet person who seems to do no wrong. Anne feels that the young people need "someone who understands...someone young, who feels as I do..." The VanDaans at first act fairly towards the other characters, until a few incidences occur which bring out the less reasonable side. They bicker and Anne describes their discussion as "violent". Mr. Frank is in some ways the boss in the annex and everyone treats him with the same respect at the start as at the end. Dussel to begin with acts like a nice, quiet person, but as the play progresses he becomes irritable towards the rest, especially Anne. Mrs. Frank is a quiet, gentle person, but by the end she had had enough and was on edge and she snaps when she discovers that Mr. VanDaan had being stealing food from the storeroom, although there was barely enough to go round. After two years of living in with these people Mrs. Frank shows the stress she had been put under and shouts: "Take your things and get out!" after which Mr. Frank says "we don't need the Nazis to destroy us. We're destroying ourselves." However as they hear news of the liberation Mrs. Frank says "We've all done things that we're ashamed of."
The causes of stress and tension were mostly caused by problems, which could not be avoided due to their new lifestyle. They were shut away so no one could see them, hiding from an enemy who in the end caused the death of seven of the eight characters.
In 1942 the Franks and the VanDaans went into hiding in a small annex above Otto Frank's business. This was a very cramped place to live, especially for many years, and after the arrival of Mr. Dussel a Jewish dentist, the conditions became even more unbearable. Naturally these cramped conditions made relationships between the characters difficult. They were cooped up together with no fresh air or privacy and were never able to go out.
Tremendous tension was also caused by the continuous worry of not knowing if they would be caught and in that event, what would happen to Meip, Mr. Kraler (the Dutch friends and work colleges of Mr. Frank who brought food, books and other supplies to the families) and the two families, especially as they never knew who they could or couldn't trust to keep their secret. This was a great strain on all the characters and this is brought to life by these stage directions early on in the play:
Mr. Frank "is about to blow out the candle when suddenly there is a crash of something falling below. They all freeze in horror, motionless. For a few seconds there is complete silence."
The crash was caused by a burglar trying to steal goods from the office below. Although this has never been proven this may have contributed to their capture, but it certainly made the constant fear of being betrayed even greater. The crash causes panic and arguing and Peter almost hits his father, only Mr. Frank's song for Hanukkah finally calms everyone down.
Health was another obvious source of tension among the group. They all knew that illnesses needed to be cured even before the symptoms had a proper chance to take hold: "You know we can't call a doctor here, ever." Says Mrs. Frank. Even the health of Mr. Kraler and Meip was important as without them supplies would be cut and their meager, monotonous diet would soon become even worse.
The war itself was also a huge source of tension and concern as being able to hear the bombs and troubles outside, but not being able to see them, made everyone feel on edge. It causes arguments also, Anne shouts at her mother "You grown-ups have had your chance!.. It isn't our fault that the world is in such a mess!"
All these sources of tension were a problem, but the most permanent form of tension was caused by the characters' personalities and their reactions to the different problems in the play and to each other. The two families are very different and this makes the situation even worse. Anne's love of life and the way she expresses herself cause attitudes towards her to change throughout the play, such as her only wanting her father and pushing her mother away as soon as she tries to get close. Peter is a shy teenager who tends to confine himself to his small room and to start with he is wary of everyone and prevents problems by staying out of peoples way. Margot is a quiet person who seems to do no wrong. Anne feels that the young people need "someone who understands...someone young, who feels as I do..." The VanDaans at first act fairly towards the other characters, until a few incidences occur which bring out the less reasonable side. They bicker and Anne describes their discussion as "violent". Mr. Frank is in some ways the boss in the annex and everyone treats him with the same respect at the start as at the end. Dussel to begin with acts like a nice, quiet person, but as the play progresses he becomes irritable towards the rest, especially Anne. Mrs. Frank is a quiet, gentle person, but by the end she had had enough and was on edge and she snaps when she discovers that Mr. VanDaan had being stealing food from the storeroom, although there was barely enough to go round. After two years of living in with these people Mrs. Frank shows the stress she had been put under and shouts: "Take your things and get out!" after which Mr. Frank says "we don't need the Nazis to destroy us. We're destroying ourselves." However as they hear news of the liberation Mrs. Frank says "We've all done things that we're ashamed of."
The causes of stress and tension were mostly caused by problems, which could not be avoided due to their new lifestyle. They were shut away so no one could see them, hiding from an enemy who in the end caused the death of seven of the eight characters.
