In literature, figurative language helps to illustrate themes and arguments in ways that normal text cannot portray alone. By incorporating figurative language into a text, writers can also make their words more relatable to the reader. This type of writing style creates effective and impactful text that provides readers with new insights and better understandings. Brian Doyle portrays his main themes about life in his short story, Joyas Volardores, through his use of various metaphors. Doyle uses metaphors about hearts to explain the importance of life and love to an individual in society. Through this use of figurative language and animal references, the author analyzes how various styles of life, and the respective values that coincide with each style, expose both the power and delicacy of the human heart that hides within us all.

The heart of a hummingbird beats vigorously at ten beats per second. In a non-stop motion, the energized little heart constantly works to keep the tiny bird alive and well. All throughout the entire life of the hummingbird, its heart never ceases to stop until the moment its time has passed (95). On the contrary, the tortoise shows us that there is another, vastly different way of life that one could live. Tortoises, giant and gentle creatures that they are, move through life slowly, soaking up every moment. Their slow heart carries them and their conservative bodies along for up to 200 years (95). In Brian Doyle’s, Joyas Volardores, Doyle presents two metaphors about hummingbirds and tortoises. He believes that every living thing has about two billion heartbeats in a single lifetime. Hummingbirds have a heart that beats at unthinkable speeds, while the tortoise’s rhythm is slow and controlled. These two specific organisms live two extremely different lives. As Doyle’s theory of two billion beats correlates to people, those who live like the hummingbird, in rapid, busy, and non-stop motion, have a very short life. On the other hand, anyone living like the tortoise in long-lasting and conservative ways, will live for a very long time. Doyle explains, “The price of ambition is a life closer to death,” (95). The people who rush through life will use up their heartbeats much faster than someone who takes their time with a calmer approach. Through this metaphor, Doyle proves his point that the heart is a defining factor in life. Given that all living things on Earth have only two billion heartbeats, it is the heart that defines the durations of time spent alive. Playing such an important role, Brian Doyle uses this metaphor to help explain the power of the human heart in respect to all living organisms. 

As Doyle continues, he makes clear that in no way is any style of life better than the other. No matter how one lives their life, he believes that it is important to remember one key point: whether a life lasts ten years or ten decades, it is important to make the most from each and every heartbeat. In response to Doyle’s quote stating, “No living being is without interior liquid motion. We all churn inside.”, he asks all people to make the most of their time (96). On Earth, humans are fortunate to be given the chance to experience the many extraordinary things that exist in this world. Life is a very precious gift, as all living organisms only have one chance to live their life. Therefore, it is imperative to enjoy life, experience deeply, and avoid wasting any valuable time. The gift of life is priceless, and however one wishes to spend it need not matter, as long as it is spent purposefully and with pride. A heartbeat is a terrible thing to waste, because once they are all used up, there is no going back. Brian Doyle uses the ideology of the heartbeat to present the power and control the heart has over life. 

The giant blue whale, the largest organism alive, has the biggest heart on planet Earth. In comparison to the hummingbird, whose heart is the size of a pencil’s eraser, the heart of a blue whale is the size of a small room. Needless to say, the largest of animals on Earth very much knows how to love. These creatures always travel in pairs and are known to have intense cries and yearning calls, of which they use when separated from their partners (95). In Joyas Volardores, Doyle compares the nature of blue whales to all people on Earth. He uses the whales to show how there is love in all life. Doyle states that it is impossible to not feel because, “We all churn inside,” (96). From this quote Doyle explains that it is human nature to feel some form of love towards other beings not matter what situation comes along. All people are individuals that possess a home within their heart. Although all individuals live alone, humans open up their hearts to let people in, and connect with others amongst society, just as the blue whales do with each other. For example, Doyle states that blue whales send a moaning cry miles out into the sea. Their goal is to reach out to others to create interactions between each other and to form new relationships (96). Just as the blue whale does, to achieve the most out of our time here on Earth, humanity must use the power of our hearts to connect with others. It is vital for humans to use their hearts to gain the complete experience of life. Life is a terrible thing to waste, so therefore it is important for all people to open their hearts, ensuring that they make the most of every single heartbeat they have left. 

The heart may be one of the most powerful structures known to man, but at the same time, can also be one of the most delicate of things. Brian Doyle analyzes the configuration of the heart through a metaphor about a brick wall. In the eyes of Doyle, the strength of the human heart is built up piece by piece over time from defining experiences. Each and every moment captured by the human heart builds up its strength, like a mason who uses cement to connect many individual bricks to make a single, lasting wall. Doyle believes that piece by piece people build a seemingly impenetrable wall around their hearts. He explains how people in society use experiences to will build up this wall around their heart, and protect themselves from all things adverse. Despite the initial strength, once the wall is comprised even the slightest bit, it comes crumbling down hard and fast. A brick wall is only strong if every brick stays intact, therefore, a single brink can define the entire wall. It is human nature to wish to connect with others, but this connection regularly requires opening one’s heart to another, creating a potential weakness. As people open their hearts up to others, they often come face to face with heartbreak. Doyle points out that, “There is so much held in a heart in a lifetime,” (96). He is suggesting that there are many different things going on at once within a person’s life. Some of these instances can leave a heavier tax on an individual than normal. For protection against any future pain, society often builds up protection around their heart through isolation. Despite the initial strength of the human heart, the constructed wall may eventually fall from thoughts as simple as a cat with a broken spine or the memory of a father’s voice. These types of thoughts can destroy the emotional wall that people build, thus leaving one in heartbreak. It is very easy to see that are many things that can lead to heartbreak in this world. All living things on this planet share this interesting quality about the strengths and weaknesses of the heart. This common core is what defines what is shared between all life on Earth. The polar opposites behind the different strengths of the heart are what make life so special. All throughout life, there are experiences that will build one up, but also experiences that can tear someone apart. It is this interesting characteristic of the heart that makes life here on planet Earth so priceless.

In Joyas Volardores, Brian Doyle uses metaphors about hearts to illustrate how life and love are vital to individuals in society. His uses of figurative language featuring hummingbirds and tortoises help to explain the differing styles of life. Doyle also references blue whales to explain the power of love and to reveal the hidden, delicate side of the heart. He expresses the importance of living life to the fullest potential. A person’s time here on Earth is limited by the number of times their heart beats. Doyle strongly believed that it was very important for one to enjoy every moment of their life. Society is gifted with the opportunity to live and be the unique individuals that they were destined to be. All throughout Joyas Volardores, Brian Doyle stresses the importance of using the time one is given, to their maximum potential, in God’s greatest gift called life.