The Diary of Anne Frank (play) Act 1, Scene 3 Summary

  • Mr. Dussel, a Jewish dentist, has been "called up" by the Nazis—asked to surrender himself and go quietly away to a death camp.
  • Miep's boyfriend tells her this and Mr. Kraler asks Mr. Frank if the group in the attic will take Dussel in.
  • Mr. Kraler is extremely grateful to the group, but he soon proves to be a fussy old guy who has no kids or family.
  • He shares a room with Anne (probably not a great idea) and immediately can't stand her.
  • We learn that the people in the attic are near to starving, surviving on the food rations that would be allowed for three people, when there are in fact eight sharing them.
  • It's beans for dinner, breakfast, and everything in between.
  • Still, Mrs. Frank continues preparing and setting the table just like a regular lifestyle.
  • Anne's prankster methods make her seem really young and silly.
  • She steals Peter's shoes, makes fun of Mr. Van Daan, and even spills milk on Mrs. Van Daan's expensive fur coat. There's a definite divide between body and mind going on here.
  • All the same, we can see the strain it's putting on our heroine as well as the rest of the crew trapped in the annex.