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Introduction: 

The Diary of a Young Girl is a diary written by Anne Frank, a Jewish girl living in the Netherlands who was a victim of the Holocaust in World War II. It was published in 1947 after it was found in Anne’s house. This book showed the world the experiences and the perspective of the victims who died and were affected by the Holocaust. This book is famous as it is the first-hand experience diary by a young victim. 

Plot:

Anne Frank’s diary begins on her 13th birthday, June 12, 1942, and ends shortly after her 15th. At first, she writes about typical teenage experiences, like friendships, school, and crushes. Anne and her sister, Margot, attended a Jewish school in Amsterdam due to anti-Semitic laws. The Frank family had moved to the Netherlands to escape Nazi persecution in Germany, but after the Germans invaded in 1940, they had to go into hiding. They, along with the van Daan family and Mr. Dussel, hid in a secret annex above Otto Frank’s office, where they were provided with food and supplies by his employees. Anne and the others follow the war’s progress by listening to the radio, and she often reflects on the war’s impact on her life. She writes about the harsh conditions in Amsterdam, including food shortages and increasing crime. Anne struggles with feelings of loneliness and isolation throughout her time in hiding. She has a difficult relationship with her mother but adores her father. Although her father disapproves of their friendship, she feels close to Peter van Daan, a teenage boy hiding with her. As the diary continues, Anne becomes more introspective, questioning her identity and the unfair treatment of Jews. She feels torn between her German roots and her life in Holland, where Jews are hated. The diary ends abruptly on August 1, 1944, with Anne writing as if she would continue the next day. However, the family was betrayed, arrested, and sent to concentration camps. Anne’s father, Otto Frank, is the only survivor, and he decides to publish her diary. Anne’s diary provides a powerful, personal account of life during the Holocaust, showing the struggles of a young girl trying to understand herself and the world around her in the face of unimaginable horrors.

Analysis:

Anne Frank starts her diary by naming her diary, Kitty. She might have chosen that name either because she liked it or because she wanted a kitten. She also shares her classmates and her friends, explaining their personalities and who she likes and dislikes. Initially, she indirectly describes herself as an ordinary 15-year-old girl living in the Netherlands. However, the Netherlands soon was invaded by the Nazis which posed threats to Anne’s family. They had a secret annex above her father’s office along with another family and a dentist which portrays the generosity of Frank’s family. Anne’s diary could also illustrate their intelligence through their secret annex and their way of gaining food. Anne and her roommates show fear and worry when they hear footsteps outside of their annex. Specifically, Anne felt loneliness and isolation during her time of hiding. She also talks about her parental relationship, especially with her mother as they don’t have a good relationship, while she adores her father. She also questions the unjust actions taken towards the Jews, along with her identity. She also interacts with Peter, a son of the other family they are hiding with. When her diary ended on August 1, 1944, it was stated that her family was betrayed and later, was arrested and taken to the concentration camps. This shows their faith and hopes they would survive but are shattered by a betrayal. This betrayal ended up for everyone in the annex to die except Anne’s father. This shows the fatal consequences of betrayal. After World War II, Otto Frank, Anne’s father, decided to publish his daughter’s diary to outspeak the Jews’ brutal reality along with a young girl’s perspective of this chaos. He also might had the intention of showing the cruelty Hitler had on everyone especially the Jews. The novel portrays the pain and agony the Jews went through. 

Conclusion:

The Diary of a Young Girl is a diary by Anne Frank, the victim of the Holocaust who lived in the Netherlands. It was published in 1947, right after World War II ended. The book introduces a young Jewish girl living in Holland and her diary of her relationships and the experience of hiding in the secret annex to not get caught by the Nazis. The diary shows the relationship perspectives she has and the fear and anxiety she faced throughout her time during the hiding. The book also explained the abrupt end to her diary which was portrayed by her father, Otto Frank. He stated that they faced betrayal and vicious reality when they were forced to go to the concentration camps. The book illustrates the torture and suffering the Jews faced during World War II.