Skip to main content

In "The Diary of Anne Frank," why does the man from the storeroom request extra money?

In act 2, scene 1, Mr. Kraler asks to discuss something with Mr. Frank alone. Rather than keep the matter secret, Mr. Frank has Mr. Kraler tell everyone what is going on. He reveals that a workman from the warehouse asked about the Franks' well-being a couple of weeks ago. Then yesterday the man approached Mr. Kraler again and asked about the bookcase and if there weren't stairs leading to a loft behind it. Then...

In act 2, scene 1, Mr. Kraler asks to discuss something with Mr. Frank alone. Rather than keep the matter secret, Mr. Frank has Mr. Kraler tell everyone what is going on. He reveals that a workman from the warehouse asked about the Franks' well-being a couple of weeks ago. Then yesterday the man approached Mr. Kraler again and asked about the bookcase and if there weren't stairs leading to a loft behind it. Then he asked for twenty guilders more a week. Based on the workman's behavior, Mr. Van Daan is first to say what everyone else is thinking, "Blackmail!"  Dussel responds with the following:



"You know what I think? He was the thief who was down there that night. That's how he knows we're here."



Mr. Dussel's belief seems reasonable. Mr. Kraler asks Mr. Frank what he should do about the matter. Mr. Frank decides that they should offer the man half--ten guilders--and then see if it really is blackmail or not.


Considering the fact that Peter accidentally dropped a lamp on the night that the burglar was in the warehouse, it is possible that the workman figured that Jews could be hiding upstairs. Then, the workman probably figured out that Mr. Frank would be the most logical one to be in hiding above his former workplace. Due to the desperate nature of life during wartime, the workman must have felt as though he was in a position to demand blackmail money, so he does.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

Discuss movements that were inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and list one success for each group.

African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change... African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change for their agendas. Two examples of moveme...
Post a Comment
Read more

What are some tensions between men and women in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar?

Julius Caesar is a largely male-driven play. Calpurnia and Portia are the two main female characters, and they are both wives of major characters. Calpurnia is Julius Caesar’s wife. She makes public appearances with him, but there may be some awkwardness between them because of her inability to have children. He publicly tells Antony to touch Calpurnia to cure her of barrenness when he runs the Lupercal, a “holy race” and fertility festival. Calpurnia has... Julius Caesar is a largely male-driven play. Calpurnia and Portia are the two main female characters, and they are both wives of major characters. Calpurnia is Julius Caesar’s wife. She makes public appearances with him, but there may be some awkwardness between them because of her inability to have children. He publicly tells Antony to touch Calpurnia to cure her of barrenness when he runs the Lupercal, a “holy race” and fertility festival. Calpurnia has nightmares about Caesar’s death. She claims that she is not naturally super...
Post a Comment
Read more