Anne Frank
Translated by Susan Massotty
SATURDAY, JULY 15, 1944
Dearest Kitty,
[1] We’ve received a book from the library with the challenging title What Do You Think of the Modern Young Girl? I’d like to discuss this subject today.
[2] The writer criticizes “today’s youth” from head to toe, though without dismissing them all as “hopeless cases”.On the contrary, she believes they have it within their power to build a bigger, better and more beautiful world, but that they occupy themselves with superficial things, without giving a thought to true beauty.In some passages I had the strong feeling that the writer was directing her disapproval at me, which is why I finally want to bare my soul to you and defend myself against this attack.
[3] I have one outstanding character trait that must be obvious to anyone who’s known me for any length of time: I have a great deal of self-knowledge.In everything I do, I can watch myself as if I were a stranger.I can stand across from the everyday Anne and, without being biased or making excuses, watch what she’s doing, both the good and the bad.This self-awareness never leaves me, and every time I open my mouth, I think, “You should have said that differently” or “That’s fine the way it is”.I condemn myself in so many ways that I’m beginning to realize the truth of Father’s adage: “Every child has to raise itself.” Parents can only advise their children or point them in the right direction.Ultimately, people shape their own characters.In addition, I face life with an extraordinary amount of courage.I feel so strong and capable of bearing burdens, so young and free! When I first realized this, I was glad, because it means I can more easily withstand the blows life has in store.
[4] But I’ve talked about these things so often.Now I’d like to turn to the chapter“Father and Mother Don’t Understand Me”.My parents have always spoiled me rotten, treated me kindly, defended me against the van Daans and done all that parents can.And yet for the longest time I’ve felt extremely lonely, left out, neglected and misunderstood.Father did everything he could to curb my rebellious spirit, but it was no use.I’ve cured myself by holding my behavior up to the light and looking at what I was doing wrong.