Giving While Needing (The Diary of Anne Frank Essay Example)

The Diary of Anne Frank is a nonfiction play that was written by Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich. This play tells the story of what happened when Anne Frank and her family went into hiding because of WW2. During this play, the main characters are frequently making sacrifices for the greater good.

To begin with, Miep and Mr. Kraler are constantly risking their lives in order to give the families in the annex the proper supplies they need to survive. According to the text, when the Franks first arrive at the annex Mr. Kraler approaches them and says” I must go. I must be out of here and downstairs in the office before the workmen get here. Miep or I will be here to bring you food and news while also finding out what your needs are.”[Hackett Goodrich 107]. This proves that Miep and Mr. Kraler risked their lives while helping the families because they ran the risk of one of the office workers seeing them and reporting them to the Green Police. This connects to what was said previously because they are sacrificing their safety to help the families. 

By the same token, Mr. and Mrs. Frank were also helping by allowing four other people to live with them in the annex even though they barely had enough food to feed themselves and their kids. The text states, when Dussel first arrives Mr. Frank is willing to let him stay in the annex, but also says' ' Did Kraler warn you that you won’t be able to get much to eat? You can imagine… three ration books among seven of us… and now you make eight.”[Goodrich and Hackett 130]. This shows that even though the Franks are starving they are still willing to set aside some food for someone who's in need. The Franks are willing to do what they know is right even though it negatively affects them, which shows that they are willing to make sacrifices.

The final point to bring up is when Anne stayed up well into the night to make everyone gifts for Hannukah. According to the text, when Anne approaches her father to give him his gift she says “It's a Muffler… to put around your neck. I made it out of the odds and ends… I knitted it in the dark each night… after I’d gone to bed. I’m afraid to say it looks better in the dark.” [ Goodrich and Hackett 142]. This quote proves that Anne was using her own supplies in order to give gifts to everyone in the annex. This means that Anne is sacrificing her own goods in order to give everyone in the annex a “Normal” Hanukkah. 

Thus, the people in Anne Frank each make sacrifices to better the lives of everyone else. The quotes provided shine light on this fact by showing three completely separate times when people had a choice to keep to themselves but ended up making sacrifices for others.