These may seem like small matters, but when people are confined within a small space, they get on one another's nerves so much more easily and for smaller causes. It is Anne's father who is always the "peacemaker" in the "Secret Annexe," the one who always has to assume the responsibility for "pouring oil on troubled waters" and soothing ruffled feelings.
In fact, Anne's father does his best to keep the younger members of the group busy, assigning them study tasks to do and ensuring that there is a constant supply of books for them to read as well. They all follow events in the outside world on a clandestine radio, and Anne struggles valiantly with French lessons. She also quarrels with her mother and complains to her diary that she cannot understand her mother and that her mother cannot understand her. Anne also resents the interference of the other members of the group. To illustrate this, Anne quotes a "squabble" with Mrs. Van Daan during dinner one night, ending with Mrs. Van Daan's saying to Anne's father, "I wouldn't put up with it if Anne were my daughter." According to Anne, these always seem to be Mrs. Van Daan's first and last words: "if Anne were my daughter." Understandably Anne confides to her diary, "Thank heavens I'm not!" (September 27, 1942).
Anne suffers a great deal from the constant criticism of the other members of the group in hiding; she is confused herself and unable to understand fully the emotional suffering and horrible fears of both her own family and the Van Daans. In particular, though, Anne feels that her mother is not defending her sufficiently, and Anne resents the fact that she has always to keep so very quiet and restrain her adolescent impulse to "sass people back."
