Uri, the leader of the group of boys, does in fact say this quotation in Spinelli's Milkweed. The importance of the quote is to highlight Uri's wisdom and knowledge and highlight Misha's innocence.
As the leader of the boys (and the one who keeps them alive), Uri has an interesting role. Even though none of the boys has truly "elected" Uri as leader, he emerges in the role. In regards to this piece of...
Uri, the leader of the group of boys, does in fact say this quotation in Spinelli's Milkweed. The importance of the quote is to highlight Uri's wisdom and knowledge and highlight Misha's innocence.
As the leader of the boys (and the one who keeps them alive), Uri has an interesting role. Even though none of the boys has truly "elected" Uri as leader, he emerges in the role. In regards to this piece of historical fiction, Uri's most important act is giving Misha his identity. Before knowing Uri, Misha was simply known as "Stopthief" because of his propensity for keeping alive by the pursuit of stealing. Misha is so touched by receiving an identity by Uri that Misha hangs on every word.
To become leader of the group of vagrant boys, the reader must assume that Uri is knowledgeable. This quotation: "If they shoot you, you're a Jew" is testament to that fact. This shows that Uri knows that Jews are the persecuted (and killed) race and religion in Warsaw, Poland. It is news to Misha, who always ends up representing innocence.
In fact, when Misha begins to comprehend the seriousness of being Jewish and what the Nazi's are doing to the Jews, Uri is purposely evasive with Misha in order to protect that childlike innocence.
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