The Girl Who Was Never Still
In his memory of his daughter, Otto Frank paints a vivid picture of a girl who was constantly in motion, both physically and intellectually. He recalls that “she was always on the go” and that she “always brought a whole community of children with her wherever she was.” Anne was a natural leader, someone who was always full of ideas, a girl who could turn any moment into a game or a new adventure. This social, energetic side of her is a testament to her vibrant spirit, even before her life was defined by the diary she kept.
But Otto’s memory also reveals a more complex side of Anne’s personality: her insatiable curiosity. He admits that this quality was “a bit annoying.” Anne was constantly asking questions, not only when they were alone but also “in the presence of others.” Her interest in everything and everyone made it difficult to get rid of her when they had visitors.
This is the very quality that made her a great writer. Her relentless curiosity and her deep interest in the world around her were the same traits that allowed her to observe, to record, and to reflect on her experiences in the Secret Annex with such profound insight. Otto Frank’s memory is a poignant reminder that the qualities that made her a difficult teenager were the very same qualities that made her an extraordinary human being.