The Diary of Anne Frank Topic Tracking: Family

Saturday, 20 June, 1942

Family 1: Anne's family is very important to her. She describes her family right away, in one of the first few entries in her diary. Her family is very close-knit, and they all hide together in the Secret Annexe.

Wednesday, 8 July, 1942

Family 2: Although the family members receive separate call-up notices for deportation to the concentration camps, they do not go because they know that they will go into hiding all together and they do not want to separate.

Friday, 21 July, 1942

Family 3: Anne complains often throughout the book about how her parents and the other people in the Secret Annexe treat her like a child. She knows herself very well, but is sensitive to criticism, and takes it to heart when people criticize her.

Wednesday, 2 September, 1942

Family 4: Anne is shocked at the differences between her own family and that of the Van Daans, who fight openly and let their son Peter be lazy and cranky. Her own family is more close-knit, and both she and Margot are well behaved and studious.

Sunday, 27 September, 1942

Family 5: Anne does not at all like how the Van Daans criticize her upbringing, as if she were their own child. In addition, she does not particularly like the Van Daans. She is glad when Daddy comes to her defense.

Monday, 28 September, 1942

Family 6: Anne notices the difference between calm Mummy and hysterical Mrs. Van Daan, and decides again that she does not at all like the foolish and frivolous Mrs. Van Daan: "Anyhow, I've learned one thing now. You only really get to know people when you've had a jolly good row with them. Then and only then can you judge their true characters!" Monday, 28 September, 1942, pg. 31

Saturday, 3 October, 1942

Family 7: There is a tension between Anne and her mother, for Anne finds her cold, and it is Anne's personality that she is not afraid to tell people what she thinks of them. Anne is closer to her father, who she praises often as modest and sweet. Mummy is upset, but Anne feels that because she told the truth about her feelings, it cannot be wrong.

Friday, 16 October, 1942

Family 8: Anne and Margot have a bonding moment when they read each other's diaries. They are close in age, only three years apart, but their personalities are so different that moments like this seem rare. Margot is quieter, and Anne is boisterous and opinionated.

Thursday, 29 October, 1942

Family 9: Anne does not feel close to her mother and resents that she must practice religion just to make her happy.

Saturday, 7 November, 1942

Family 10: One of the reasons why Anne is so independent is because she does not feel like her family approves of her. Often, they either treat her coldly or like a child, and she feels like she is too mature for this.

Saturday, 28 November, 1942

Family 11: Anne is very frustrated by the way, and the frequency with which, her family criticizes her. She wants to be taken seriously and not treated like a child. Her mother especially criticizes her.

Friday, 2 April, 1943

Family 12: Anne is not afraid to let Mummy know her true feelings. She treats Mummy as she feels Mummy treats her, which is with coldness, and is surprised, though not particularly sorry, when Mummy is upset. Anne is much closer to her father, who gives her lessons.

Sunday, 13 June, 1943

Family 13: Anne is very close to her father, and like him, she has an optimistic spirit, which he appreciates and writes a poem about for her birthday. Her father knows her best.

Monday, 9 August, 1943

Family 14: Anne often sees a sharp contrast between her family and the Van Daans, who she often finds ridiculous and foolish. Her family is more close-knit and low-key.

Friday, 24 December, 1943

Family 15: Anne finds her own mother unable to be what she needs her to be, and so imagines the improved and ideal mother she would like to be someday. Anne does not feel close to her mother because she feels that Mummy treats her coldly and with indifference, and finds it impossible to talk to her.

Saturday, 25 December, 1943

Family 16: Anne feels very close to her father and as a result, she strives to achieve some of his traits, such as his modesty.

Sunday, 2 January, 1944

Family 17: Though in the past, Anne has felt cold toward her mother, she is ashamed that she has upset her, and she wishes to improve their relationship.

Friday, 17 March, 1944

Family 18: Anne and Margot are both frustrated that their parents treat them like children, for in hiding they have grown very mature inside. Anne's mother is still not living up to her expectations, and Anne still finds it difficult to be close to her.

Monday, 20 March, 1944

Family 19: Anne has grown closer to Margot, and worries that she feels left out when she goes to talk to Peter. Margot tells her that she is used to being the odd one out anyway. Anne grows closer to Margot throughout the course of the hiding, and comes to consider her a real friend.

Tuesday, 11 April, 1944

Family 20: Anne knows that she has already surpassed her mother's achievements by being so strong and independent at such a young age. She does not want to be a housewife like her mother and Mrs. Van Daan, and strives to be more like her father.

Friday, 5 May, 1944

Family 21: Anne has always been very close to her father, but she believes that he did not properly handle the struggle she was going through. In addition, she is angry that he does not trust her to visit Peter upstairs.

Sunday, 7 May, 1944

Family 22: Anne is ashamed that she has hurt her father's feelings. She realizes that she still has a lot to learn, and she realizes her capacity to hurt people.

Saturday, 15 July, 1944

Family 23: Anne does not like that her father treated her struggle to find and improve herself as nothing out of the ordinary. She sees herself differently than she thinks others see her.