Essay Questions

Explore the effects of the second world war as brought out in Milkweed.

Separation is one of the effects that result from the second world war as highlighted in this novel. Misha is separated from his family as a result of the war. Additionally, he becomes separated from Janina when the Jackboots capture Jews to be executed. As the control of the Nazis over Warsaw tightens, the band of thieves as well as Janina’s family is forced to stay in the ghetto where they have no access to food and as such resort to smuggling. Life becomes unbearable for the Jews who are hunted by the Nazi soldiers and even executed. In this way, Milkweed becomes an explicit exploration of the plight of individuals during political instabilities as well as wars, a plight highlighted by deaths, separation, lack of access to food, and widespread fear and anxiety.

Explore the idea of care as brought out in this novel.

Misha exhibits the trait of being caring, in this novel, as noted through his numerous gestures of kindness. For instance, when Janina’s family is bundled and the rest of his band taken to the ghetto, they have no source of food and rely on him. Misha, to this effect, smuggles food for them, an act that brings him out as caring. Additionally, when the situation for the Jewish people worsens and the war is at its climax, Misha is ready to take Janina along with him to safety even though she is unwilling to leave her family. Janina, in this way, also exhibits a great deal of love and affection for her family. Later in the work, Misha, while in America tends to milkweed, a situation that alludes to his caring character while at the same time a reminder of the endurance that had been central to his life.

Explore the character of Misha as brought out in this work.

Misha is brought out as a rather ambitious character in this work. When he sees the Jackboots in action, Misha is completely mesmerized by them, their uniforms as well as appearance. He hopes to one day become a Jackboot, an emblem of power in those times. Additionally, Misha exhibits a caring character as highlighted by his engagement in smuggling to help out Janina’s family through the hard times imposed by the Nazi regime. Even though Misha and Janina lose each other when the Jackboots cause their separation, from the relationship they shared, Misha can be argued as loving, seeing as he was willing to risk his life to take Janina along with him following the heightened Nazi regime. It can thus be argued that Misha is the epitome of humanity as portrayed through his considerate character in the novel.