Anne Frank Essay

The ability to write down one’s emotions and thoughts enables individuals to undergo a catharsis of sorts when under duress. Fundamentally, a diary, or journal, is a permanent personal record that is kept of events, thoughts, and ideas associated with an individual. They retain great significance in an individual’s life, and hold a great deal of sentimental value. The Diary of a Young girl (1952) written by Anne Frank and the film, Freedom Writers (2007) directed by Richard LaGravenese, explore this cleansing of the psyche as individuals undergo an introspective, reflective process. Diaries hold a great deal of sentimental value, especially to those in society who are in need of a confidant, whilst also providing a significant backdrop to withhold such sentimentality from the external environment. Diaries retain great significance in an individual’s life. Communicating one’s thoughts and feelings on paper can essentially preserve external relationships. Diaries allow the notion of self-discovery through the process of reflection and lastly, personal writing brings an individual’s subconscious emotions to the fore, allowing one to express himself rather than to supress his emotions. Diaries hold a great deal of sentimental value, especially to those in society who are in need of a confidant, whilst also providing a significant backdrop to withhold such sentimentality from the external environment. When Anne Frank first begins writing in her diary as a 13 year-old girl, she feels that her friends and family all misunderstand her. She thinks her mother is cold and callous, and feels that the other adults in the annex consider her a nuisance. Thus, she first turns to the diary as a new friend, counting on the diary to be a sympathetic, nonjudgmental adherent. “I hope I will be able to confide everything to you, as I have never been able to confide in anyone, and I hope you will be a great source of comfort and support” Through the use of 2nd person and the