Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl | Themes

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl Themes

Coming-of-Age

Frank was in hiding with her family from age thirteen to age fifteen. Readers find many of her feelings and experiences familiar, indicating that the process of growing up, with all of its pain, joy, and uncertainty, is generally the same regardless of time, place, or situation. Even in normal circumstances, adolescence is an awkward and introspective time, but Frank's extraordinary circumstances add intensity to her maturation. Frank is like most teens in that she struggles with her family, especially her parents. She is at odds with her mother, which is common in adolescence, as girls begin to assert their independence from their mothers. Unlike most teens, however, Frank has no way to distance herself physically from her mother, so the emotional distance widens. Further, Frank's preference for her father is made more obvious by the close quarters, although Frank's need for independence eventually leads her to distance herself from...
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