Comparing Diary Of Anne Frank By Goodrich And Hackett

“The Diary of Anne Frank” written by Francis Goodrich and Albert Hackett is a riveting play about the true events of a teenage child, Anne Frank. One possible theme that can be deduced from the play is that one should be grateful for what they have. In act one scene four of the play, the reader sees Mr. Dussel complaining about the living conditions of the Franks hiding place: “Dussel: (to Mrs. Frank). Something must be done about that child, Mrs. Frank… Everynight she twists and turns… I spend half my night sushing her. And now it's nightmares!” (Goodrich and Hackett 533). Mr. Dussel is ferociously complaining about Anne and her sleeping habits as he yells at Mrs. Frank. The Franks and the Van Daans let Mr. Dussel stay with them out of the

Dussel could be on the streets or even worse, taken by the green police but he puts all this aside to complain about a girl much younger than him who is also sacrificing her privacy sleeping next to Mr. Dussel. Instead he should be grateful that he is even able to hide from the green police and not be in a camp or much worse. Another example of this theme is in act two scene three with Mr. Van Daan: “Mr. Van Daan: I’m hungry. Mrs. Frank: We’re all of us hungry! I see the children getting thinner and thinner. Your own son Peter… I’ve heard him moan in his sleep, he’s so hungry. And you come in the night to steal food that should go to them… to the children!” (Goodrich and Hackett 558). In this scene, Mr. Van Daan is caught stealing the little bread that the three families possess together. The Franks knew the reprecaussions they would have to take inviting another Jewish family to hide with them but they still went through with it because of how greatful Mr. Frank is for Mr. Van Daan after he helped him make a living in Netherlands. Mr. Van Daan, however, does the opposite as he puts the kindness of the Franks aside and jeapordizes the well-being of everyone including his own family by stealing the bread to satisfy his own desires. Resulting in Mr. Van Daan facing consequences as the Franks and Mr. Dussel continuously press