Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas
explored in a literary work.
The Loneliness of Adolescence
Anne Frank’s perpetual feeling of being lonely and misunderstood provides
the impetus for her dedicated diary writing and colors many of the
experiences she recounts. Even in her early diary entries, in which
she writes about her many friends and her lively social life, Anne
expresses gratitude that the diary can act as a confidant with whom
she can share her innermost thoughts. This might seem an odd sentiment
from such a playful, amusing, and social young girl, but Anne explains
that she is never comfortable discussing her inner emotions, even
around close friends. Despite her excitement over developing into
a woman, and despite the specter of war surrounding her, Anne nonetheless
finds that she and her friends talk only about trivial topics.
We learn later in the diary that neither Mrs. Frank nor
Margot offers much to Anne in the way of emotional support. Though
Anne feels very connected to her father and derives strength and
encouragement from him, he is not a fitting confidant for a thirteen-year-old
girl. Near the end of her diary, Anne shares a quotation she once read
with which she strongly agrees: “Deep down, the young are lonelier
than the old.” Because young people are less able than adults to
define or express their needs clearly, they are more likely to feel
lonely, isolated, and misunderstood. Living as a Jew in an increasingly
anti-Jewish society, in cramped and deprived circumstances, heightens
the isolation Anne feels and complicates her struggle for identity.
Anne occasionally turns to the cats that live in the
annex for affection. Noticing that Peter van Daan also plays with
the cats, Anne speculates that he must also suffer from a lack of
affection. Anne’s observation softens her view of Peter, whom she
once considered obnoxious and lazy, and these thoughts cause her
to think that they might have something in common. Their ensuing
friendship and budding romance stave off their feelings of loneliness.
Margot, who like the other members of the annex witnesses the changing nature
of Anne and Peter’s relationship, expresses her jealousy that Anne
has found a confidant. Evidently, Anne is not the only one in the
annex suffering from the deprivation of friends.
Feelings of loneliness and isolation also play out in
the larger scheme of the annex. All the inhabitants feel anxious,
fearful, and stressed because of their circumstances, yet no one
wants to burden the others with such depressing feelings. As a result,
the residents become impatient with one another over trivial matters
and never address their deeper fears or worries. This constant masking
and repression of serious emotions creates isolation and misunderstanding
between all the residents of the annex.
The Inward versus the Outward Self
Anne frequently expresses her conviction that there are
“two Annes”: the lively, jovial, public Anne whom people find amusing
or exasperating; and the sentimental, private Anne whom only she truly
knows. As she comes to understand her actions and motivations better
over the course of her writing, Anne continually refers to this
aggravating split between her inward and outward character.
Anne is aware of this dichotomy from a young age. In
her early diary entries she explains that though she has many friends
and acquaintances, she feels she does not have one person to whom
she can really open up. She regrets that she does not share her
true self with her friends or family. Anne expresses frustration
that she does not know how to share her feelings with others, and
she fears that she is vulnerable to attacks on her character. When
her relationship with Peter begins, Anne wonders whether he will
be the first one to see through the outer, public Anne and find
her true self beneath.
