Learning Log 6

Date: 2/1-2

Part: Page106-137

Reflection:

There was another small interlude between Anne and her mother. One night, Anne’s father was too busy to listen to her prayers, so he sent Anne’s mother to do it. However, when her mother asked for Anne’s permission, she simply rejected; so Mother cried. Everyone asked Anne to apologize, but she refused. I am surprised by the reason why Anne refused to say sorry. “I seem to be indifferent to Mother’s tears and Father’s glances, and I am, because both of them are now feeling what I’ve always felt.” She wanted both her parents to feel what she had felt when Mother treated her bad. I think this kind of behavior is called “An eye for an eye.” Only the reason why Anne did so was not for retaliating. She merely hoped her parents could understand her true heart. 

“The Best Little Table” talked about a debate between Anne and Mr. Dussel. They shared a room with each other, but Anne didn’t have her own time to use the table in the room. So, she decided to defend her right. She politely consulted with Dussel, but he replied, “No!” When asking about the reason, he said that because she was Anne, and even did personal attack. Finally, it was Anne’s father who persuaded Dussel to give in. From beginning to end, I have to say, Anne held an elegant posture. On the contrary, Dussel was sheerly childish. Adults always think that youngsters are unqualified to argue with them; however, even babies have their own right.

“You’ve been brought up all wrong.” Mrs. Van Daan said to Anne. It is not totally Mrs. Van Daan’s fault to say that. At that conservative era, I think Anne was considered as an extraordinary girl. She was strong-minded and talked a lot, which was alien to the adults’ ethical values.

Anne started to describe her daily routine time by time since August 4, 1943. She wrote about meals, bath time, and sleep time. Besides, the Annex Residents sometimes worked for the downstairs office in the daytime: dealing with food (like gravy or potatoes) or filing letters. I wonder how she could remember every single detail of everything. It seems when things happened, she wrote it down on the spot. Maybe it’s her merit that she always paid more attention to things around her.