The Diary of a Young Girl-Anne Frank-Thursday-August 03-1943 onwards

 The Diary of a Young Girl-Anne Frank-Thursday-August 03-1943

Anne says that Italy has banned the fascist party and people are fighting with them at many places. Even military has joined with the people in the fight against the fascists.

Another news is that their lovely radio was taken away from them by the authorities last week. Anne also reports that Dussel’s personality is going down day by day. Whatever he utters on politics, history, geography or anything else is ridiculous.  

There has been the third air raid and Anne has now decided to become more courageous than before.

Mrs. van Daan’s Cowardice

Anne quotes an example to prove that Mrs. Van Daan is very coward although she poses to be very brave.

Her favourite sentences are: “Let them fall!” and “Better to end with a Bng, than not to end at all.”

Anne says that Mrs. Daan was shaking like a leaf and she even burst into tears that morning. She was comforted by her husband, Mr. van Daan, with whom she has recently made a compromise not to quarrel any more.

Then, Anne describes that keeping a cat has advantages and disadvantages also. They have kept a cat Mouschi in the attic to scare away the mice. But her disadvantage is that the house is full of fleas. They are under constant fear of being bitten by them. Even the yellow powder sprinkled by Mr. Kleiman is not able to kill the fleas.

Wednesday, August 04, 1943

Anne writes about bedtime activities that begin at 9:00. “Chairs are shifted, beds pulled out, blankets unfolded”. Anne sleeps on a divan which is five ffet long and a few chairs are added to make it long. They keep comforters, sheets, pillows, blankets and several other things at Dussel’s bed during the day.

Margot usually spreads her bed with a terrible creaking. Mr. and Mrs. van Daan sleep upstairs.

Anne goes to the bathroom after Peter comes out of it. She washes herself from head to toes. She has to complete all within half an hour.

At ten o’clock, they go for sleep.

Mr. Dussel returns from Mr. Kleiman’s office after finishing work. He is wearing a long gown longer than his size. He takes at least ten minutes to get ready to lie on his bed. He creates a lot of disturbance for Anne.

Approximately at 3 o’clock in the morning, Anne wakes up to attend her natural call. She describes more, specially about Dussel’s unusual activities at night.

She also reports that, sometimes, the sound of the guns’ going off is heard at night.

Whenever she gets frightened at night, she quickly goes to her father’s room to sleep there.

At six forty-five, the alarm clock rings. At seven fifteen, she removes the black-out screen all alone and then it is time for Dussel to go to the bathroom.

Thursday, Aug 05, 1943

In this diary entry, Anne describes lunch break, which begins around at twelve-thirty and the inmates of the secret Annex heave a sigh of relief because they are, at this small period of time, somewhat free to talk at some higher pitch of sound. Margot takes a few books, Anne’s father sits in a corner with a book written by Dickens. Her mother helps in kitchen work while Anne tidies up the bathroom and herself at the same time.

At twelve forty-five, the office employees start coming back. First Mr. Gies and then either Mr. Kleiman or Mr. Kugler comes. They are followed by Bep or sometimes by Miep.

At one o’clock, they gather around the radio and attentively listen to BBC. At one fifteen, food is distributed. Everyone from downstairs gets a cup of soup with dessert if it is available. Mr. Gies sits on divan and relaxes a little. Mr. Kleiman narrates the latest news of the town. Mr. Kugler hurries up the stairs, knocks on the door and comes in.

At one forty, all hurry in their business. Margot and mother clean the dishes. Anne does some work and after some time all take rest on their usual places. A silence prevails in the Secret Annex.

Saturday, Aug 7, 1943

In this diary entry, Anne feels elated that she has written a complete story.

Monday, August 9, 1943

Anne begins this entry by portraying beautifully some of Mr. van Daan’s characteristics. She gives such details while hi is eating his lunch. He is the first person to take his portion of food from the table. He takes “a generous portion whatever he likes”.

Then Anne says that “he usually joins a conversation and never fails to give his opinion”. He is also ready to give a good fight to anyone who dares contradict him. He knows much about everything, but his head is filled with arrogance.

For Mrs. van Daan, Anne says that it is better to say nothing for her. Instigating others for fight seems to be her sole motive. She is always in the look out to stir trouble between Mrs. Frank and Anne.

Another characteristic of Mrs. van Daan is that she is never satisfied at the table. And ‘she doesn’t always get enough’ although she always has her choice. Anne also adds about her that she thinks whatever she speaks interests all. She pretends to know everything and offers everyone a piece of advice. Anne also sums up her character by saying that: “One, she’s hardworking; tow cheerful; three, coquettish and sometimes a cute face.” That’s all about Petroneller van Daan.

 After that, Anne writes about the third diner, Mr. van Daan, who talks very little. She calls him a Danaidean vessel that never gets filled.

 Next, she writes about Margot, she eats like a bird quietly. She eats only fruit and vegetables.

Mrs. Frank, Anne’s mother, has a good appetite. She also talks while eating.

Now Anne shifts the topic to other activities in the house. At present, Anne’s mother is doing the dishes while Mrs. van Daan is cooking. She also polishes the furniture.

She calls her father the most modest person at the table. He has full emotional control while eating. He ensures whether the others have been served first or not. Anne calls her father ‘the goodness personified’.

Dussel sits next to her father and she calls him “the Aneex’s little bundle of nerves”. His motto is “Help yourself, keep your eyes on the food, eat and don’t talk. He doesn’t like any other topic except food for discussion at the table while eating. He eats enormous portion of food. He never says ‘no’ to food, whether its quality is good or bad.

Anne describes Dussel in a very funny way. While at work, he is in his trousers that come up to his chest, a red jacket, a black patent leather slippers and horn-rimmed glasses.” She also describes bathroom sessions. He spends at least fifteen minutes in one turn and does not care for others. His fixed times are: 7:15-7:30, 12:30-1:00, 2: 00- 2:15, 4:00-4:15, 6:00-6:15, 11:30-12:00

These are his regular bathroom sessions.

Finally, she describes the number nine diner. She is Bep, one of the office employees. HE has a healthy appetite. She is cheerful, good humoured, kind and gentle.