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What are Anne Frank's feelings towards her sister?
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Anne Frank's feelings towards her sister, Margot, are complex and generally distant. While Anne respects Margot, she describes her as quiet, tidy, and an overachiever, lacking warmth in their relationship. Anne experiences jealousy, particularly over Margot's closeness to Peter Van Daan, whom Anne also likes. Although Anne acknowledges Margot's kindness, she remains unhappy with their dynamic, depicting Margot as standoffish and not much of a friend in her diary.
For the most part, Anne's quite distant from her sister. Although she greatly respects Margot, Anne isn't emotionally close to her. There's something almost too perfect about Margot that prevents Anne from developing any real sisterly feelings toward her. Yet it's emotions that place an additional strain on their less-than-ideal sisterly relationship. Anne becomes consumed with jealousy over Margot's obvious affection for Peter Van Daan. Anne has feelings for Peter and doesn't want to share him with anyone else, least of all her big sister. But in the claustrophobic confines of the secret annex, it becomes necessary for the two sisters to sort out any problems that may arise between them; otherwise, life will become even more unbearable, both for the sisters and everyone else.
So in an exchange of letters in late March 1944, the sisters reveal their thoughts to each other. Margot tries to reassure Anne that she...
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has no need to be jealous. Anne, in reply, expresses her thanks for Margot's kindness and understanding in this delicate matter. Yet at the same time, it's notable that she goes on to say that she's still unhappy about the situation and always will be. Anne's letter encapsulates her relationship with Margot: she respects and admires her big sister, but there's not much in the way of warmth between them.
Anne Frank does not reveal a great deal about Margot Frank in her diary. Margot is three years older and there tends to be a little bit of sibling rivalry or jealousy in her writing about her sister. Anne paints Margot in a boring way, referring to her as quiet, tidy, and an overachiever. Anne does not think that she has much of a personality. Margot envisions that she has a bright future after the war. The older sister hopes to go to school and become a maternity nurse in Palestine.
Anne dismisses Margot as standoffish and introverted. She discusses different fights that she has with her sister while in hiding. Anne does mention Margot in a positive light when detailing a letter that she received in support of her friendship with Peter. Despite this mention of Margot, Anne does not consider Margot her friend and does not think very much of their relationship. For this reason, Margot does not get very much space in the Diary of Anne Frank.
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