Give a brief character sketch of Mr. Otto Frank.

OR

How does Anne Frank mature and develop through the course of her diary?

Mr. Otto Frank was a smart, resourceful and caring father as well as a talented businessman. He had a strong character and was clearly the head of the Frank household. He likes reading books, news and he encourages these interests in Anne. He was the only resident of the annex to survive the war. Otto remained in Aushwitz until it was liberated by Russian troops in 1945. He returned to Holland where he receives Anne’s diary. He got Anne’s diary published and spent his life promoting Anne’s diary. He often serves as the peacekeeper between the Franks, Van Daans, and Dussel. According to Anne, Mr. Otto Frank is one of the kindest, smartest, most gentle and thoughtful fathers imaginable. He always supports Anne and frequently takes her stand during family arguments. He always remains level-headed, while the other adults in the annex can be stingy, harsh and emotional. Unlike Mr. Dussel, he always tries to keep the best food for the children and takes the smallest portion for himself. Anne mentions the feeling of a special closeness to her father since she sees herself as more similar to him than to her mother or sister. Anne always tries to impress her father, live up to his expectations, and obey his wishes. However when she is in a close relationship with Peter her father deems it inappropriate and asks her to stop visiting Peter in the upper part of the annex. Anne feels upset that her father is so conservative, protective and does not approve of her relationship. Out of respect for her father and in an attempt to please him, Anne begins to spend less with Peter.

OR

Anne begins her diary at the age of thirteen. Then she liked boys, loved going to school and spending time with her friends. At first she only wrote about superficial things like what her friends were doing and who liked her etc. but after she goes into hiding she becomes more introverted and thinks about life more. Upon their arrival at the annex, she was hopeful and optimistic, but over time, that hopeful optimism disintegrates into loneliness, isolation and deep thinking. As a young girl she was quick in challenging and arguing with the other residents. After the age of fifteen she becomes quite mature. She also develops a sense of affection for Peter. Anne’ relationship with her father was closer than that with her mother. At the beginning, Anne was afraid of all the bombing, gunshots, explosions, and airplanes going overhead. Over the course of the memoir, she overcomes her fear and quits talking about it. Over time she became a strong observer of politics, and of human nature and she became a very practiced and well-educated writer. In the beginning, her diary has basic daily accounts but later we see critical thinking and her assessment of characters. She also questions the persecution of the Jews and realises her own identity.