Milkweed Essay

The book Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli takes place in the time of the Holocaust, the (in my opinion) worst time in history. During that time period over 11 million people died from the Nazi’s reign of terror. Misha, the main character of Milkweed is an abandoned orphan living on the streets and stealing to survive. Misha changes his beliefs about the Jackboots.

The story is told from Misha’s point view. MIsha frequently misinterprets terrible events and situations. For example, he thought a march of Jews that were being sent to camps was a pretty little parade. Another example is that he thought the Jackboots looked cool because they had neat uniforms. He actually wanted to become a Jackboot. It never occurred to Misha that the Jackboots could be evil.

Misha changes his mind when he realizes the Jackboots are truly evil. Misha realizes the ghetto was a camp the Nazi’s sent Jews and later Gypsies to die. All of the boys were caught and then sent to it. Cut off from the outside world with the dwindling amount of food, Misha starts smuggling food inside of the ghetto. Some of the other boys started also but weren’t so lucky when they were hung from lampposts. After being sent there he truly sees who the Jackboots are.

Overall, Misha  is a dynamic character who is living in the time of the Holocaust and who has to learn what is really happening. His dream of becoming one of the shining Jackboots is diminished when he reaizes that things were too good to be true.