The Play of the Diary of Anne Frank Act 1, Scene 4

Act 1, Scene 4: The war is escalating. Bombing raids are increasing. This makes Anne have nightmares about being captured: “She’s endangering all our lives.” [Mr Dussel] She thinks this makes her cowardly: “I think I’ve conquered my fear - I think I’m really grown up - and then something happens and I run to you like a baby.” [Anne]

Act 1, Scene 4: Anne pushes her mother away and finds comfort from her father instead: “We have nothing in common. She doesn’t understand me. Whenever I try to explain my views on life to her she asks me if I’m constipated.” [Anne] Mr van Daan is stealing food.

Act 1, Scene 4: The themes that are explored through the characters and incidents in this scene are: Conflict Betrayal

Questions & Answers: Why is Mr van Daan sneaking to the food cupboard in the middle of the night?  What would the others have to say if they caught him? Mr van Daan sneaks to the food cupboard at night to steal food because he wants to eat more food than he is allocated. The others would have been very upset at his greedy, self-centered actions if he’d been caught. What are the dangers if Anne, or anyone else in the Annex, makes a lot of noise?  The danger is that if someone in the street or in an adjacent building hears, they might figure out that people are hiding in the building and turn them in to the Green Police. Is Anne a coward?  Give a reason for your answer. You tell me …