Inspiring Hope
“For the past two years we have lived in fear. Now we can live in hope”
(280). When faced with malevolence in the world, a wall of pessimism often sadly
overshadows optimism, instilling both fear and hopelessness in the heart of
humanity. Nonetheless, an uplifting outlook remains one of the few virtues that
possess the power to blanket fear with the comfort of a promising future. “The
Diary of Anne Frank” by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett outlines the
experience of a teenage girl trying to survive the Holocaust with the only weapon
she has, her optimism. Although many believe that during difficult situations we
sacrifice our hopefulness to fear, Anne Frank’s optimism illuminates a beacon of
hope within this dark truth.
Anne Frank’s optimism exemplifies the power of hope in the face of fear.
Despite the fact that many reject this truth, they cannot dispute that humans are
born with the will to survive, and Anne Frank illustrates this human virtue when
she utilizes her greatest fear as a catalyst to propel her survival. For instance,
when Anne converses with Peter about his lack of a driving force, she shares,
“When I think of the dearness of you, Peter…and the goodness of the people we
know…Mr. Kraler, Miep, Dirk, the vegetable man, all risking their lives for us
every day…when I think of these good things, I’m not afraid anymore…I find
myself, and God, and I…” (279). Anne believes that in order for Peter to discover
any peace-of-mind, he needs internal motivation to guide him beyond his fear
and defeatist attitude. Even though persecuted, Anne remains steadfast in her
hopefulness despite the tragic events unfolding around her, which ultimately
inspires those around her to persevere. Furthermore, after Mr. Frank returns
from Auschwitz, he has a reflective moment with Miep: “It seems strange to say
this, that anyone could be happy in a concentration camp. But Anne was happy in
the camp in Holland” (281). Whereas most of the camp occupants, consumed
with fear, view their environment as torture and their futures as bleak, Anne
discovers happiness despite the events occurring around her. Anne remains
optimistic even when everyone around her is fearful, and her own potential
demise awaits. Throughout all of the tragic events that Anne experiences,
including her own death, she remains fearless, igniting faith in the human spirit to
generations to come.
Ultimately, as the rest of the world lives in anxiety and grief, Anne
Frank abandons all the negativity in her life and uplifts her community with
her optimistic spirit. Some may argue that when dangerous situations
create distress in the hearts of many, hope is entirely lost, and fear takes
over. Other individuals contend that on occasion, there are people that can
keep faith and optimism going throughout hardships, and simultaneously
uplift those around them. Although many believe that during difficult
situations we sacrifice our hopefulness to fear, Anne Frank’s optimism
illuminates a beacon of hope within this dark truth. In the inspiring and
relatable words of Elie Wiesel, “Just as despair can come to one only from
other human beings, hope, too, can be given to one only by other human
beings.”
12.4!!! 