A Sound Of Thunder, By Ray Bradbury

807 Words2 Pages

Time is a fickle concept, especially when billions are involved. “A Sound of Thunder” is a science fiction short story written by Ray Bradbury. The story is about a man named Eckels who pays a company called Time Safari Inc. to join a hunting expedition that will travel sixty-five million years into the past to kill a Tyrannosaurus rex. However, during the hunting trip Eckels steps off the path causing catastrophic changes to the future. Through this story and the concept of the butterfly effect, the author expresses the importance of the preservation of nature for the protection of the world's future. “A Sound of Thunder” illustrates how even the smallest deviations from the past can greatly impact the future. When confronted by the Tyrannosaurus …show more content…

. Who knows what he's done to Time, to History!’” (Bradbury 144). Travis’s emotional response of anger and concern stresses the severity of Eckels’ mistake and the potential consequences it may have on the foundation of time and history. By expressing such strong emotion, Travis’s reaction emphasizes the importance of adhering to the rules set by Time Safari Inc. His reaction serves as an important reminder of the significance of maintaining the integrity of the timeline to prevent any disruptions that could have extensive consequences for the future. Upon arriving back at Time Safari Inc., Eckels is confronted with the consequences of his actions and realizes the magnitude of the changes that occurred. He becomes frantic upon learning that all this was caused by his simple mistake, thinking, “Embedded in the mud [on his boot], glistening green and gold and black, was a butterfly, very beautiful and very dead. It fell to the floor, an exquisite thing, a small thing that could upset balances and knock down a line of small dominoes and then big dominoes and then gigantic dominoes, all down the years across Time” (Bradbury …show more content…

His mind struggles to grasp the concept that such a seemingly minor action, stepping off the path, could have such significant consequences. He underestimates the interconnectedness of events and fails to appreciate the delicate balance that exists within the timeline. No matter how small a change or mistake is, there is always a chance that the repercussions will be much greater than the action itself. Even the slightest deviation from the expected course can lead to unforeseen and potentially significant consequences, highlighting the need for caution and mindfulness in our actions. However, not everyone in the story truly understands the significance of maintaining the past to preserve the future. Before leaving for their hunting expedition, their safari guide, Travis, explains the importance of all the rules they are mandated to follow. Eckels is skeptical of the strict rules of staying on the path and not interfering with the past during their time travel expedition with Time

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