
The hummingbird’s vivid coloration and fast-paced movements captured the attention of the first white settlers in the Americas. The settlers referred to the birds as joyas valordores, or “flying jewels”. Although this essay might be interpreted as an anatomy lesson in the beginning, he uses the description of the heart to evoke emotion in his readers. The author waits until the last paragraph of the essay to express the theme to his audience. The thought-provoking body and vivid description of the hummingbird allow readers to reflect on their own lives as well as encourage them to search for the deeper meaning of the text. With the assistance of science, vivid description, and the explanation of the interconnectedness of humans and animals, Doyle is able to develop his writing. One might argue that the human being and the hummingbird appear to have no similarities, but in Brian Doyle’s essay, Joyas Volardores, he uses the metaphor of the heart to further develop the themes of the vulnerability of human beings.

In the beginning of the text, Doyle compares the fragileness of the hummingbird heart to further demonstrate the delicacy of the human heart. By shining a light on how delicate the human heart is, the author is able to establish the point that all human beings are vulnerable. He states, “the price of their ambition is a life closer to death; they suffer more heart attacks and aneurysms and ruptures than any other creature.” (Doyle 95).  Similar to the hummingbird, humans are commonly fueled by their ambitions. Humans, as ambitious and strong as they might be, still suffer from heartbreak, depression, or any other event or feeling that can have an effect on the heart. The human heart and soul are delicate. Both the hummingbird and human being exude strength and power externally, yet their hearts are susceptible to harm. Doyle writes “You can brick up your heart as stout and tight and hard and cold and impregnable as you possibly can and down it comes in an instant…” (Doyle 96). By using the metaphor of the hummingbird and connecting it to the human experience, Doyle is able to exemplify vulnerability and the delicacy of the human heart. 

To further develop his essay, Doyle discusses the heart of a blue whale to establish the idea that no matter how strong or magnificent something is, it still lives in a state of vulnerability. The author states “…the animals with the largest hearts in the world generally travel in pairs, and their penetrating moaning cries, their piercing yearning tongue, can be heard underwater for miles and miles” (Doyle 96). Although the human heart does not weigh seven tons like the blue whale, humans display their emotions similar to the blue whale. Doyle explains that even a creature as large as the blue whale; with a heart that weighs seven tons, expresses emotion through moaning cries. The moaning cries of the blue whale are significant to the fact that even the largest and strongest of creatures display emotion and heartbreak. Although, some human beings might keep their emotions bottled up, the blue whale cry is a symbol for universal vulnerability amongst human beings. 

Finally, Brian Doyle describes the medical complications of his son’s heart at birth to establish the idea that all creatures are born into a state of vulnerability. Doyle’s son, who was born with only 3 of the 4 vital heart, displays the idea that human beings and creatures do not get a choice on whether or whether not they are vulnerable.  Brian Doyle’s son, immediately upon entering this earth, was born into a state of vulnerability. This world is full of creatures who are visually different from each other, yet we all are connected through a state of vulnerability. Doyle intends to express the fact that vulnerability is inevitable; you cannot escape it because vulnerability is just one of the many characteristics that makes us human, all living beings are susceptible to harm. Even someone as young as a newborn is exposed to danger. Although most human beings are born with sustainable health, we are all born into a world that forces us to be vulnerable. 

Throughout the essay, Doyle stresses the inevitability of being vulnerable. He uses the metaphor of the heart to develop his theme to the reader.  Although the author clearly expects the reader to recognize the emotional interconnectedness of all creatures, he places a special emphasis on the human life. Through the usage of science and vivid description, Doyle is able to display the vulnerability of human beings. The author also emphasizes the importance of the human experience. Initially, Doyle expects the reader to understand the interconnectedness of human and animals. Doyle concludes his essay by focusing on just the human being, therefore, expressing his theme to the reader. The vulnerability of human beings should never go unnoticed, as well as the importance of the human experience.