Growing Up in The Diary of Anne Frank Essay Sample

Jane Austen once said, “self-knowledge is the first step to maturity”. Growing up in one of the most historical periods ever, The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne frank discusses the ups and downs of growing up. The diary starts on Anne's birthday when she receives the diary first. She takes it with her to the secret annex where she spends her first and last teenage years.  She calls her diary ‘Kitty’ and tells Kitty everything. She confides in her diary and calls it her only friend. She grows up with the diary and along the way she tells her diary everything she feels. In the diary of Anne Frank, Anne Frank changes from being outspoken and perspective at the beginning of the diary to thoughtful and introspective at the end of her diary. 

At the beginning of The diary of Anne Frank, Anne was very outspoken and perceptive. “Who besides me will read these letters? Fro whom but myself shall I get comfort? As I need comforting often I frequently feel weak and dissatisfied with myself; my shortcomings are too great. I know this and every day I try to improve myself again and again” (Frank 46). Anne states that she needs comforting often but she feels lonely, weak, and not satisfied with herself. She states that her shortcomings are too great and feels she has failed to meet her standard. Despite her feeling that she is not enough and that she has failed she understands what is going on and tries to improve herself time and again.

Later in the diary of Anne Frank, Anne becomes very thoughtful and introspective. “My head is haunted by so many wishes and thoughts, accusations and reproaches. I'm not as conceited as so many people seem to think, I know my faults and shortcomings better than anyone but the difference is that I also know I want to improve, shall improve, and have already improved a great deal.” (Frank 148).  She was extremely thoughtful with her words and expressing her emotions, explaining them in great detail to help herself better understand. She uses the metaphor “my head is so haunted by so many wishes and thoughts” to better understand how she feels and how her mind is almost flooded with these emotions.  She is fully aware of her actions and faults and is determined to improve and already has.

In the diary of Anne Frank, Anne frank matures and develops over her time in the Secret Annex. Overall, we all mature and grow up at one point some differently than others.  Anne found how she could express her emotions by writing. I for one struggle with this but am progressing every day, such as Anne did. So in conclusion, we all figure ourselves out, learn about ourselves, mature and, grow up you just have to figure out how to do it all again.