In Act II, Scene 5, of The Diary of Anne Frank the action returns to the present time and Otto Frank sits with Anne’s diary in t
he Secret Annex. The audience hears Anne read a line from her diary: “In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” The sentiment expressed in this statement is a major theme of the play. In your journal, identify and discuss examples from the play that support this theme, and explain the meaning behind Anne's statement. Your response should be about 150 words.
The theme of believing in the good of people even at the worst of times is one that is prevalent in The Diary of Anne Frank. Allthough Anne is enduring horrors we can't even imagine, she believes that everything will be alright in the end. One clear example of goodness is the way in which Otto Frank’s four employees: Miep Gies, Johannes Kleiman, Victor Kugler and Bep Voskuijl agree to help the family hide despite the risk involved in helping jews, which could result in imprisonment, deportation and even being shot. Bep's father was also a big help, and cherished by the people living in the Annex. Although there are conflicts between the very different people living and hiding together, they all contribute to make a home and end up being a big family, helping each other bear the abominations going outside their safe space.
Strain theory is a sociology and criminology theory developed in 1938 by Robert K. Merton. The theory states that society puts pressure on individuals to achieve socially accepted goals (such as the American dream), though they lack the means.
