Introduction
One can safely say that the story of Anne Frank, her family, and those people who lived with her in a small annex in Amsterdam in 1942 is one of the most tragic and heartbreaking biographies known to humanity. Her diary is a collection and representation of both the fears and hopes that the Jewish people experienced during the Nazi occupation of Europe. The fantastic and paradoxical thing about her diary is that despite the general pessimistic nature of her story, it teaches her readers to believe in the power of hope. Anne Frank is a lesson to everyone that the power of hope is real, and one should always believe in future better days, even if only negative things surround them.
Hope Is like Cement for One’s Personality
Anne Frank’s biography shows that hope is a necessary component of personality for any person. It is like an endless resource that both builds the character of one and supports their mental well-being. It was the power of hope that helped Anne Frank realize what was at stake, adjust, and strengthen her character to the new grim and merciless order of things. Her phrases such as “I’ve got to fight things out for myself! Make something of myself!” are proof of it (Goodrich & Hackett, n.d., p. 124). Therefore, the power of hope exists, as it can influence not only the perception of a person but also their character. Other people can identify these personality changes, which means they are also likely to be affected by their belief in hope.
Hope is a Living Force that Moves People into the Future Days
Another thing that Anne Frank’s story proves is that hope is the inner living force of a person. It is a type of internal human mechanism that motivates and makes people survive, live, and plan for their future. Despite the daily fear of being found by the Nazis, Anne Frank continued to hope that she and her future descendants would read the Cissy Van Marxvelt books and enjoy other things (Goodrich & Hackett, n.d.). “I shall let my children read her” were her thoughts filled with a living force of hope (Goodrich & Hackett, n.d., p. 133). If Anne Frank could find hope while living in an annex in a house surrounded by the constant lethal threat of the Nazi presence, then anyone can.
Believing in Hope as a Last Resort
The play’s ending shows that hope is the only thing one resorts to in the darkest hour. One of Anne Frank’s last recorded thoughts was “goodbye for a while” and “If you should find this diary, will you please keep it safe for me, because someday I hope” (Goodrich & Hackett, n.d., p. 186). One can say that hope is a small candle that will always illuminate the dark stages of a person’s life.
Conclusion
The life story of Anne Frank and her family is the power of hope personified. Every day of their hiding from the Nazis was filled with constant fear and anxiety, but they managed to focus their attention on the good and positive moments and hoped that things would end well. Although fate was not benevolent to them, they left an eternal legacy that postulates that the power of hope is real and one must believe in it.
References
Goodrich, F., & Hackett, A. (n.d.). The diary of Anne Frank, act I. Window Rock Unified School District #8. Web.
Goodrich, F., & Hackett, A. (n.d.). The diary of Anne Frank, act II. Window Rock Unified School District #8. Web.