The Diary of a Young Girl

Perhaps the most apparent theme in The Diary of a Young Girl is how people handle life in hiding and in fear of persecution and death. If the Secret Annex was betrayed or discovered, the residents faced death or deportation to a concentration camp. Trusting the wrong person or being heard by a neighbor could prove fatal. Despite the pressure, the Annex residents still observe and exchange gifts on birthdays and holidays, even when their resources grow scarce. For example, on Mrs. van Daan’s birthday, “Her husband, Dussel and the office staff gave her nothing but flowers and also food. Such are the times we live in!” (114). The residents also keep daily habits, like exercising, studying, and working.

Even before entering the Secret Annex, Anne’s diary illustrates how everyday life continues even under extraordinary circumstances, like occupation under a foreign army and the enactment of racist laws. Because of anti-Semitic legislation, Anne cannot ride a streetcar, but she still must go to the dentist and to school (18). Even as the situation for Jewish people in the Netherlands grows harsher and more extreme, Anne’s diary shows they still try to maintain a sense of normalcy.