Anne Frank was reflecting upon how she had grown up while having to live in the Secret Annex. When Anne Frank thought of how she behaved during her earlier school days, she observed how her younger self was silly and “superficial” (3-7-44). While it seemed like she was popular and happy on the outside, on the inside, Anne Frank “often felt deserted” and she “tried to drive away the emptiness [she] felt with jokes and pranks” (3-7-44).
While in the Secret Annex, she was forced to be introspective, and she saw how lonely she was, how fake, how superficial, and she still tried to cover up her emptiness by “deliberately [talking] about anything and everything that was farthest from [her] thoughts”. That's when Anne Frank realized that she needed to “to face the difficult task of changing [herself] alone” (3-7-44).
Anne Frank started to take herself more serious, which coincided with her introspection, as well as her writings. Anne Frank grew tired of the criticisms that were being leveled against her, and decided that “the others no longer had the right to throw me about like an india-rubber ball” (3-7-44).
In spite of the criticisms that were being leveled at Anne Frank, she still “wanted to change in accordance with [her] own desires” (3-7-44).
Later on, Anne Frank says that both Margot and Peter frequently criticized Anne because she's “strong and plucky”, because she always stuck to what she wanted, was tenacious, and always had “persistent energy” (7-6-44).
Peter and Margot were being assholes to Anne just because she was principled, strong, and upbeat.
Then Anne Frank begins to doubt herself: “I wonder if it's really a good quality not to let myself be influenced. Is it really good to follow almost entirely my own conscience?” (7-6-44).
Of course it's okay for Anne Frank to follow her own conscience. At least Anne Frank has a conscience, unlike so many of these goddamned psychopaths walking around amongst us, and by following her own conscience, and acting upon it, Anne builds dignity and respect for herself. The faults and shortcomings that Anne Frank felt that she herself had, were really just the negative reflections of the assholes surrounding her.
When Peter told Anne Frank that he was weak, she was shocked that Peter would recognize his weakness and accept it, instead of doing something to change it.
“Quite honestly, I can't imagine how anyone can say: “I'm weak,” and then remain so. After all, if you know it, why not fight against it, why not train your character?” (7-6-44).
It's this above sentence which has been ringing in my head for quite some time. Anne Frank is one of the few people I trust. A dead person. Who wrote a diary over 70 years ago. But because Anne Frank is frank and honest throughout the book, and because she made Peter an object of her affection, even though she wanted Peter to be superior to her in every way, she quickly realized that it was quite the opposite: Anne Frank was the superior one, and Peter, the inferior. Anne Frank's logic is airtight. If a person knows that they're weak, then why would they not train themselves, or their character, to be stronger?
While in the Secret Annex, she was forced to be introspective, and she saw how lonely she was, how fake, how superficial, and she still tried to cover up her emptiness by “deliberately [talking] about anything and everything that was farthest from [her] thoughts”. That's when Anne Frank realized that she needed to “to face the difficult task of changing [herself] alone” (3-7-44).
Anne Frank started to take herself more serious, which coincided with her introspection, as well as her writings. Anne Frank grew tired of the criticisms that were being leveled against her, and decided that “the others no longer had the right to throw me about like an india-rubber ball” (3-7-44).
In spite of the criticisms that were being leveled at Anne Frank, she still “wanted to change in accordance with [her] own desires” (3-7-44).
Later on, Anne Frank says that both Margot and Peter frequently criticized Anne because she's “strong and plucky”, because she always stuck to what she wanted, was tenacious, and always had “persistent energy” (7-6-44).
Peter and Margot were being assholes to Anne just because she was principled, strong, and upbeat.
Then Anne Frank begins to doubt herself: “I wonder if it's really a good quality not to let myself be influenced. Is it really good to follow almost entirely my own conscience?” (7-6-44).
Of course it's okay for Anne Frank to follow her own conscience. At least Anne Frank has a conscience, unlike so many of these goddamned psychopaths walking around amongst us, and by following her own conscience, and acting upon it, Anne builds dignity and respect for herself. The faults and shortcomings that Anne Frank felt that she herself had, were really just the negative reflections of the assholes surrounding her.
When Peter told Anne Frank that he was weak, she was shocked that Peter would recognize his weakness and accept it, instead of doing something to change it.
“Quite honestly, I can't imagine how anyone can say: “I'm weak,” and then remain so. After all, if you know it, why not fight against it, why not train your character?” (7-6-44).
It's this above sentence which has been ringing in my head for quite some time. Anne Frank is one of the few people I trust. A dead person. Who wrote a diary over 70 years ago. But because Anne Frank is frank and honest throughout the book, and because she made Peter an object of her affection, even though she wanted Peter to be superior to her in every way, she quickly realized that it was quite the opposite: Anne Frank was the superior one, and Peter, the inferior. Anne Frank's logic is airtight. If a person knows that they're weak, then why would they not train themselves, or their character, to be stronger?
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