“SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1944 Dearest Kitty, The sun is shining, the sky is deep blue, there’s a magnificent breeze, and I’m longing — really longing — for everything: conversation, freedom, friends, being alone. I long… to cry! I feel as if I were about to explode. I know crying would help, but I can’t cry. I’m restless. I walk from one room to another, breathe through the crack in the window frame, feel my heart beating as if to say, “Fulfill my longing at last. . .” I think spring is inside me. I feel spring awakening, I feel it in my entire body and soul. I have to force myself to act normally. I’m in a state of utter confusion, don’t know what to read, what to write, what to do. I only know that I’m longing for something. . . Yours, Anne”
― Anne Frank, The Diary of Anne Frank
This poignant excerpt is from a diary entry written by Anne Frank, a Jewish teenager who hid from the Nazis during World War II.
The diary, addressed to an imaginary friend Anne called “Kitty,” chronicles her life from June 12, 1942, until August 1, 1944, while she and her family were in hiding in the secret annex of an old office building in Amsterdam.
In this entry dated Saturday, February 12, 1944, Anne captures a moment of intense emotional turmoil and longing that is deeply relatable, even while her circumstances were extraordinarily challenging.
Her description of the beautiful day outside contrasts sharply with her confined existence in the annex, highlighting the natural human desire for freedom and the painful restrictions of her reality.
Anne’s longing for “conversation, freedom, friends, being alone” reflects her deep desire for normalcy and the basic human experiences that were denied to her and to millions of others during the Holocaust.
Her yearning to cry and the feeling of being about to explode are manifestations of the immense stress and emotional burden of living in constant fear and hiding.
The inability to express her feelings openly, even through tears, underscores the oppressive nature of her situation.
Despite the adversity she faced, Anne’s reference to feeling spring awakening inside her is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. It symbolizes hope and renewal, suggesting that even in the darkest times, there is an inherent belief in the possibility of a better future.
Her struggle to act normally and her confusion about how to spend her time reflect the psychological impact of prolonged confinement and the challenge of maintaining one’s identity and purpose under such conditions.
This excerpt offers a poignant glimpse into the inner world of a young girl grappling with the harsh realities of war, confinement, and the longing for a normal life and it showcases Anne’s remarkable ability to articulate her emotions and experiences.