
Joyas Volardores, written by Brian Doyle, is an extremely thought provoking piece of writing, in which many different meanings can be extracted from. By constantly using the heart as a dominant symbol throughout the essay, Doyle poses an underlying theme of heartbreak. He demonstrates said theme by comparing a heart the size of an infant’s fingernail, to that which weighs seven tons. Such correlations allow one to recognize the many recurring differences, yet an overpowering key similarity among all hearts in all creatures. Doyle ultimately suggests that no matter the size of the heart, it is inevitable for it to become broken.

Joyas Volardores, or, flying jewels, is a term coined by the first white explorers to describe the beautiful, unique creature that is the hummingbird. Doyle introduces that even though they are slight in size, they live their lives in a rather eager manner. This becomes evident in the seventh line of the third paragraph when he states, “The price of their ambition is a life closer to death,” (Doyle, 95).  Through this description, he alludes to the fact that their ambition can subsequently lead to their downfall. In other words, their openness and active involvement in the world that surrounds them can ultimately yield to vulnerability and failure. Through such a statement, he makes it clear that even the smallest of hearts are extremely susceptible to both pain and heartbreak. 

When Doyle institutes the choice of approaching each new day similar to that of a tortoise, or to that of a, “flying jewel”, he implies the depth of contrast that exists between such two ways of life. Moreover Doyle delves deeper into the lifestyles by hinting that one can either: consistently seize the moment and live only two years like a hummingbird, or approach life at a slower pace and live for two hundred years like a tortoise. He suggests that neither path will necessarily lead you astray from the eventual heartbreak, but will simply guide you down different routes to end up at an equivalent final destination. However, he warns that if you do chose to take risks and steer your life in the direction of a hummingbird, consequences will follow. He expresses this by stating, “It’s expensive to fly. You burn out. You fry the machine. You melt the engine,” (Doyle, 95) Thus implying that living life at such a fast pace, can take a toll on the heart. Within such a short and ambitious life span, many experiences can still be had, and many relationships established. However, if one does not slow down to cherish certain important moments and personal connections, it will be far too late. This fact leads into yet another underlying theme that Doyle wishes to establish with the reader. The concept that speeding through life and not living in the moment, causes the inevitability of heartbreak to occur sooner rather than later.

Transitioning from the trivial heart of a hummingbird, to that which is the largest on our planet earth, Doyle introduces the reader to the Blue Whale. Through description, and the relation of distance to heartbreak, he paints the picture that even the most immeasurable of hearts are not immune to pain. “Their penetrating moaning cries, their piercing yearning tongue, can be heard for miles and miles,” (Doyle, 96). When Doyle illustrates these penetrating moaning cries, he does so with a strong negative connotation. This negativity appears to be parallel with heartbreak. He exhibits this connection by introducing the only real fact researchers know about the Blue Whale, which is that these mysterious ginormous creatures tend to travel in pairs. He makes a point to include said information, to demonstrate that the Blue Whales, and the massive hearts they carry, desire companionship. Without the comfort that stems from these types of relationships, the creature cries out and can be heard for miles on end.

 No matter how hard one may attempt and no matter the size of the heart, neither pain nor anguish can be avoided. Doyle introduces this thought in the final stages of the essay, when he offers his analysis on heartbreak relating to the most familiar heart, that of a human. “You can brick up your heart as stout and tight as you can and down it comes in an instant,” (Doyle, 96). Through choosing the verb, “brick,” the author represents the defense mechanism humans retreat towards when dealing with the disappointment of love. However, he makes clear the inevitability of it ultimately becoming damaged by declaring, “…down it comes in an instant,” in reference to the “wall.” Doyle then presents the fact that, unlike the hummingbird or Blue Whale, the human heart has a higher sense of awareness; essentially, a recognized fear of such agonizing pain that comes along with the perception of heartbreak. This becomes clear in the fifth line of the final paragraph when he states, “When young we think there will come one person who will savor and sustain us always; when we are older we know this is the dream of a child, that all hearts finally are bruised and scarred, scored and torn, repaired by time and will,” (Doyle, 96). These two quotes pulled from the text further exemplify the idea that the heart was created with the strength to preserve itself, even after being faced with the imminent hardships of such agony. 

All hearts, in all creatures, throughout all different time zones in our massive and complex world, ultimately succumb to the agony of heartbreak. Doyle represents this belief  throughout the entirety of his essay, Joyas Volardores. He makes it clear that a hummingbird encompassing the heart the size of a pencil eraser, experiences heartbreak through its fast paced lifestyle. He also exclaims that Blue Whales become inflicted when companionship and comfort are adrift. Finally, Doyle states that humans possessing a higher sense of awareness, attempt to escape the feeling all together. However, no matter how hard we try to avoid such a pain staking feeling, the heart will ultimately break.
