Edith Frank or Anne’s mother is a highly sentimental, conservative, cold and critical character. She is a foil to her complex daughter Anne who shows maturity and understanding of people and things which are far beyond her years. Anne needs emotional support and understanding during the tumultuous times in the annex. Ironically, Edith Frank is lacking in such finer feelings. She fails to lend any emotional support to her younger daughter. Anne also doesn’t show much and love and sympathy with her mother during the early period of her hiding in the annex. She has a few kind words to say about Mrs. Edith Frank. An adolescent girl looks for love and sympathy. But she finds her mother lacking in such finer human feelings. She is cold, critical and uncaring towards Anne. Atleast, Anne thinks so about her mother during her early years in the annex. She is a source of Anne’s anger and frustration. Actually, she finds herself helpless as she doesn’t know how to express her love to her children. It is quite surprising that Anne seldomly comments on her mother’s positive traits or behaviour.
Later in life, Anne develops a better understanding of Mrs. Edith Frank as a mother and as a wife. Anne’s growing maturity makes her a little more objective towards her mother. She gets a more balanced perspective. She regrets her quick and rash judgement of her mother. Mrs. Edith Frank shows utter lack of understanding when she stops Anne from going upstairs to meet Peter. Mrs. Edith Frank’s inability to provide emotional support for her daughter leads Anne to find an outlet for expressing her innermost feeling. It is through ‘Kitty’ or her diary. Anne moves closer to Peter because he can share her feelings and talk about sex and sexuality.
