You Owe Me (Miah Arnold) Analysis

In this essay Miah Arnold describes her feelings of loss concerning her job as an English teacher (she earned her doctorate in the subject) at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. She works primarily with terminal patients, and throughout the essay tells stories of her time there, describes what it is like to lose those she loves. One of her favorite students, Khalil, has recently died, and it is perhaps that tragedy that inspired her to write this essay. Arnold has worked at the Cancer Center described in the essay for over a decade, encouraging children to write poems and prose. Because her career appears to be so depressing for some, Miah Arnold explores why it is she consistently returns to her job, despite repeatedly bargaining that if another child dies, she will quit. Arnold wrote this essay to be understood by the general public, as indicated by her explanation of a hospital environment and cancer treatment. However, the essay may also be directed at parents with sick children and other hospice caretakers, that they may find comfort in her reflections on tragedy. Arnold relies heavily on anecdotes throughout the essay; it is written as a narrative with sections of omniscient reflection. Each story is selected to get a particular emotional response from the reader, as well as moving the essay forward to her next reflection. For example, she describes her strong relationship with her student Khalil. This transitions to her interactions with her students and how she teaches them as the reflection and analysis. She then returns to a narrative style to describe Khalil's death and then her subsequent reaction and reflection on why she has not quit if students she loves die. This pattern continues throughout the essay, so it is structurally monotonous. However, her essays are so well chosen to induce emotions in the reader and to connect them to her job that it holds interest. Her reflections progress logically, first questioning why she would stay, confirming that she will stay, and then trying to determine what about her can allow her to work with dying children. Though there is no definitive conclusion or epiphany, the reader comes to understand that it is all of her stories and experiences that allow her to stay. Because her stories of death were unique and so well-selected to be moving, I think Arnold did accomplish her purpose. Her use of emotion was very impacting.

Angel on Earth
Miah Arnold treats her students like ordinary children, so they may laugh in the face of death.
Image Source: American Childhood Cancer Organization