Write a character sketch of Mr. Van Daan.

Mr van Daan was Otto Franks business partner and friend. His family comprised of his wife Mrs van Daan and son Peter who came to share the secret annex with the Frank family in order to escape arrest and deportation. Mr van Daan was highly opinionated and believed in being pushy to get ahead in life. He was a man of action who would not rest a moment if there was work to be done. In his good days, he was an amiable and cheerful person, a comforting presence in the household. Although he was a chain smoker and considered uncouth, he was generally more tolerable than his wife. He took a keen interest in the political scenario of that time, usually thrusting his opinions on others. However, Mr van Daan found it hard to understand his reticent and reclusive son, Peter. This led to misunderstandings and violent arguments between the father and the son.