How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Date.Paragraph)
Quote #1
[. . .] Mother pressed her prayer book into my hands. I read a few prayers in German, just to be polite. They certainly sound beautiful, but they mean very little to me. Why is she making me act so religious and devout? (10/29/1942.3)
This passage suggest that Anne’s mother’s behavior is different than usual. It also highlights Anne as an independent thinker. She is not interested in religion for show or for beauty, but wants it to “mean” something to her.
Quote #2
To give me a new project as well, Father asked Mr. Kleiman for a children’s Bible so I could finally learn something about the New Testament. (11/3/1943.2)
Anne wouldn’t have been exposed to the New Testament in her Jewish school, and her curiosity toward it shows her desire to experiment with religion and religious texts. It would make sense that she would start with a “children’s Bible” – she could learn the basic stories relatively quickly.
Quote #3
The best remedy for those who are frightened, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be alone with the sky, nature and God. For only then can you feel that everything is as it should be and that God wants people to be happy amid nature’s beauty and simplicity. (2/23/1944.3)
Like many before and since her, Anne sees God in the natural world. Yet, her speech is ironic. She is trapped. She can’t go outside. She also says this is the only way you can “feel that everything is as it should be.” In this desperate passage, Anne is stating, very politely, that because she is separated from nature, she is separated from God.