Peter Van Daan And Anne Frank's Relationship

The Love and Friendship Between Anne Frank and Peter Van Daan

Anne Frank and Peter Van Daan's relationship in the beginning of Anne’s diary is not very pleasant, although it is not something to disregard. Anne Frank began writing in her diary at the age of thirteen, when she was about to be concealed. Her family were Jews and they had to hide from the Nazis during World War II. She was in what was entitled the “Secret Annexe,” with a family of three, and a dentist. The Franks were a family of four and the Van Daans were the family of three. The Franks had two girls by the names of Margot and Anne. The Van Danns had a son by the name of Peter. The dentist was a man named Albert Dussel, whose wife was out of the country at the time when the

22). She is saying that she is not very interested in him and she shouldn’t talk to him, because he will not be enjoyable good company to her. In addition, Anne warms up to Peter more, for the reason of what she says on page 40. “He might be a bit more friendly with me for once; after all I did give him an apple yesterday,” (pg. 40). This is evidence that she is being nicer to Peter, but is still not showing much interest in becoming friends with him. After that quote, she doesn’t talk about him unless she needs to. For example, she had to talk about him when the burglars came and he was the witness. The next time she talks about Peter in a way that she really looks at him, is when she wants someone to talk to. She says, “My longing to talk to someone became so intense that somehow or other I took it into my head to choose Peter,” (pg. 131). During the two years that Anne Frank was in hiding, she felt lonesome and, eventually, she took it upon herself to work up the courage to confide in Peter Van

Consequently, she says, “I almost beseeched him: oh, tell me, what is going on inside you, oh, can’t you look beyond this ridiculous chatter?” (pg. 131). Indeed, this is the cause of Anne Frank’s, returned, deep affection for Peter Van Daan. Him and Anne’s fondness of each other increases as they chat more and more often. “I was very pleased, because I sensed a real feeling of fellowship,” (pg. 153). This is evidence of their springing friendship. In February of 1944, Anne notices Peter staring at her during meals, and it gives her great satisfaction. She then says, “I really do hardly anything else but think of Peter,” (pg. 159) illustrating that she doesn’t want to be without him. Likewise, she admits she thinks she is in love with Peter on March 3, 1944. Again in April, another expression of affection is shown by both adolescents. During the night, when everyone was sleeping, Anne ran into Peter as he was coming out from the restroom. They agreed to meet in the attic and watch the moon. Anne describes the experience like this, “It was glorious weather, and soon the sirens were wailing; we stayed where we were. Peter put his arm around my shoulder, and I put mine around his and so we remained, our arms around each other, quietly waiting until Margot came to fetch us for coffee at four o’clock,” (pg. 206). Ten days later, she recalled an experience that she would