Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Milkweed, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Identity and Relationships
War, Dehumanization, and Innocence
Ingenuity, Resilience, and Survival
Family
Summary
Analysis
Later that day, Misha tells Uri about the closet-sized room in which Janina’s family is living. Uncle Shepsel had rushed up the stairs of a house and planted himself in a fourth-floor doorway to claim it. They’d taken turns guarding the room while family members took turns carrying their belongings up. Before Misha left, Janina surprised him with half a buttercream chocolate she’d saved for him.
War can dehumanize people in many ways, one of which is by turning them against one another—like forcing them to fight for inadequate living space. Janina’s gift to Misha suggests that small kindnesses will be key to survival and to retaining one’s humanity in this harsh world.
Themes
When Misha returns to the ghetto, men are building a brick wall around its perimeter. He steps over an unfinished section, ignoring people’s yells. He goes to the house where the Milgroms are living and presents them with a sack full of food he’s stolen. While the others eat, Mrs. Milgrom returns to her mattress in a corner, lamenting her lack of an oven. Misha explains to them that he simply stepped over the wall—because of his size, he can go anywhere.
Misha has always gone wherever he wanted; he’s never believed that the rules governing normal society apply to him. So the same holds true in the ghetto—helped by his size, he innocently assumes that he can come and go as he wishes. He adapts to challenging circumstances once again, and this time, he tries to help his new friends, not just himself.
Themes
Somebody knocks on the door. A man comes in with a piece of paper. Mr. Milgrom takes the paper, opens a chest with lots of small drawers, and gives the man something in an envelope. The man looks as if he might cry, but Mr. Milgrom refuses payment. After the man leaves, Mr. Milgrom tells an indignant Uncle Shepsel that he was simply doing his job. Janina explains to Misha that her father is a pharmacist, but Misha doesn’t even know what medicine is.
Mr. Milgrom’s way of doing business in the ghetto—in this case, showing kindness by refusing payment from a vulnerable customer—is another example of adapting to changed circumstances in order to survive. Not everyone sees it this way, however: Uncle Shepsel’s disapproval indicates that he’s a character who looks out for himself and fears being taken advantage of.
Themes
After listening to Mr. Milgrom’s exchange with the customer, Misha goes over everyone’s names: Tobiasz Milgrom, Janina Milgrom. Happily, he adds that he is Misha Pilsudski. Uncle Shepsel glares at the children as they laugh and clap. Misha feels delighted to have his own last name and to know somebody else’s.
In spite of the suffering and oppression all around him, Misha delights in knowing and connecting with others. Not only does he have an identity now, but he is becoming more aware of others’ identities—in other words, he’s developing a capacity for relationships.
Themes
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