The Diary of Anne Frank: A Compare and Contrast Essay between the Franks and the Van Daans.

During World War II, the Franks and the Van Daans were hiding in a small area of two to three rooms, with a single window, in the attic of an office building in Amsterdam. In her diary, Anne refers to it as the "secret annex." For two years, these close quarters serve as a shelter and protection for the families against the Nazi enemy. While in hiding, problems and the characters' true natures evolved, revealing their differing personalities and value systems. Anne Frank, a young Jewish girl who writes a diary of her experiences during World War II, tells about the major characters in the play. The two characters that I chose to compare were Otto Frank, Anne's father and the only survivor of the group hiding, and Mr. Van Daan, Otto Frank's Jewish associate.

Otto Frank was probably the most generous and calm person of the "family."

English: The Anne Frank House alongside the Prinse...

English: Reconstruction of the bookcase at the Ann...

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Otto Frank was a devoted father and husband while in hiding. He helped the children by tutoring them and helping them with schoolwork. He not only helped Margot and Anne, but he offered to help Peter, the Van Daan's son. Otto Frank was intelligent when it came to helping the kids. He tried his best to make them understand. He also had a very good profession, which happened to be right below the annex. Another important characteristic of Mr. Frank was that he was modest and fair. As Anne says from her diary, "(Father) is the most modest person at the table. He always looks to see whether the others have been served first. He needs nothing for himself; the best things are for the children. He's goodness personified." Otto Frank paid back the debts to Mr. Van Daan. He is always doing what he feels is the right thing...