Growing up

Being forced to grow up 

From the time she is thirteen until shortly after her fifteenth birthday, Anne experiences a process of transformation, triggered on the one hand by her pubescent development (see also “Conflict between generations”) and on the other hand by the extreme circumstances to which she is exposed every day (see also “Living in hiding”). She is forced to mature rapidly, which changes her.

At the beginning of 1944, in the course of her continuous self-reflection, Anne looks back on her life and divides it into different phases, which we will use below. As a result, we can see how Anne develops from a rather clueless schoolgirl into an independent person and thinker in just two years.

 During this period, the rebel learns to see things from other people's perspectives and to better understand her parents' point of view. By the end of her unfinished diary, for example, she is able to express feminist points of view or analyze her own character with an amazing eloquence. After the war, she wants to become a writer and live in Holland.

Anne’s popularity

At the beginning of 1944, Anne's life before going into hiding seems like an unreal “heavenly existence” (62%). On the surface, she has everything she could want during this period: “Five admirers on every street corner, twenty or so friends, the favorite of most of my teachers, spoiled rotten by Father and Mother, bags full of candy and a big allowance. What more could anyone ask for?” (62%). 

Anne`s cheerful and generous nature makes her popular with everyone, she is considered the “class comedian” (62%), and she is constantly the center of attention.

Despite the sheltere...