Introduction
Bradbury wrote many short stories and books as a fiction author. Most of the author’s stories are science fiction, explaining scientific phenomena, nature, and technology. “A Sound of Thunder” is an intriguing short story involving time traveling to the past. Many people today would like to know how the world looked before the emergence of civilization and technology and would gladly take a chance to visit past events and places. Bradbury’s story gives the audience a picture of the past and how it feels to travel through time, highlighting various themes associated with time traveling and its effects. This essay analyses the short story, exploring themes, literary devices, and the importance of the themes in today’s world.
Short Story Analysis
Themes
Consequences of Human Action
Bradbury’s story is a thought-provoking piece with a powerful message to humanity. The author uses various themes to present his narrative, including the consequences of human action, the dangers of time traveling, human hubris, and the perils of technology. The central theme is the consequences of human action, which is explored throughout the narrative. Bradbury explains how one’s actions and choices can significantly impact the individual and others not involved in the decision-making (Bradbury 89).
When Eckle embarks on the journey, the tour guide repeatedly informs him of the necessity of following orders and the given plan. Although Eckle seems to understand everything, he fears killing the T-Rex after seeing its mightiness. Travis orders him to shoot, but he is overcome by fear, which creates confusion as every passenger has a specific task to perform upon arrival. Eckles’ decision endangers everyone on-site, destroying plants and animals in the fight against man and beast. Although the animal is killed and the tree falls to finish the job as predicted, the fight has created unfavorable environmental changes that had not been anticipated (Nandrajog 35). Changing the past had significant implications for modifying the future, and Eckles’ decision could lead to dire consequences that would modify nature and humanity.
Consequences of Carelessness
Aside from poor decision-making, the author shows the consequence of carelessness in one’s actions. Every action during the expedition had unforeseeable consequences, which the tour guide tried to avoid by laying out rules (Trenberth 467). When Eckles asks if he could kill any other animal apart from the T-Rex during the hunt, Travis explains the consequences. For instance, killing one mouse would lead to the non-existence of an entire mouse family through generations (Bradbury 3). Consequently, the action could affect the food chain, leading to chaos and destruction and causing a butterfly effect.
Travis further explains that the company had made a “path” that ensured hunters did not destroy animals and plant species when they visited the past. Hence, he told everyone about the importance of staying on the path and never “stepping off” to avoid future implications such as an earthquake or species extinction (Bradbury 4). Despite the warnings and reminders to be careful, Eckle accidentally steps off the “path” during his frightful moment. The consequences of his actions are seen when they arrive in the future. The nation is under a dictator’s leadership, and the world smells of war. When Eckles looks at his shoes, he discovers he has stepped on a butterfly, leading to catastrophic changes affecting significant populations and the environment (Lindstedt 10). Therefore, carelessness in the smallest detail can have massive consequences on the individual and others unaware of one’s actions.
Human Pride and Arrogance
The author explores the theme of hubris as a flawed nature of humanity. Eckel is arrogant and prideful, ignoring all warnings about the dangers of their journey. The journey did not guarantee the safety of the passengers and their return. At the same time, hunting down giant animals like dinosaurs required courage. Since the animals were extinct, the passengers were still determining what to expect when they arrived. However, the passengers, particularly Eckel, were confident of killing the animal, making him the first to kill upon arrival (Bradbury 90). His confidence turned to fear when he saw the gigantic T-Rex, which led to the decision that significantly changed the future.
Conversely, human action is the source of significant changes that will occur in the future. According to Broderick, the decision to create a time machine results from ignorance and disregard for God, the creator of the universe (57). If the time machine had not existed, Eckle and the others would not have embarked on the dangerous expedition. However, humans’ overconfidence and thirst for power and control led to meddling with things beyond human comprehension.
Although many would like to discover what the past looks like, time is irreversible and cannot be undone. Bradbury shows that trying to change the nature of things has significant disastrous ethical implications (Nandrajog 36). Therefore, human beings should be content with learning history from existing records since going back in time can negatively affect the present and future.
Literary Devices
Metaphor
Bradbury uses several literary devices to write the story, making it exciting and thought-provoking. The most distinct device is using a metaphor to convey the meaning of the narrative. The story’s title, “A Sound of Thunder,” is a metaphor for the narrative, explaining significant events that happened in the story (Lindstedt 10). When the party arrives in the past and starts their shooting expedition, the first animal to be killed is the T-Rex. The author explains that everything went silent, then “a sound of thunder” when the T-rex appeared (Bradbury 6). Although there were other sounds, the appearance of the enormous animal made everything seem quiet, with the only focus being on the beast. The sound of thunder signified the mightiness of the dinosaurs and how they reacted to people’s interference in their niche (Lindstedt 10). Thus, it was a magnificent creature that seemed to control the world, and killing it appeared improper.
Similarly, the fall of the T-rex after its death was thunderous, indicating its impact on the surroundings and the destruction it could cause. According to the rules, a single-foot stomp could cause an earthquake (Nandrajog 34). Hence, the thunderous fall was bound to create significant changes that could implicate the future.
Finally, there is a sound of thunder at the end of the story, signifying the impact of the change in the future and the punishment for Eckles’ actions (Hoffman 237). Due to the significant change that had occurred, Eckles became regretful of his actions while Travis raged with his weapon raised. Thus, the sound of thunder portrays the consequences of bad choices, human hubris, and the punishment after that.
Similes and Imagery
Other prominent literary devices in Bradbury’s story are similes and imagery. The author gives vivid descriptions, images, and events that pique the imaginative mind of the reader. Bradbury describes the time machine as “a mass and tangle, a snaking and humming of wires and steel boxes, at an aurora that flickered now orange, now silver, now blue” (Bradbury 1). The description gives a vivid image of the time machine as an extraordinary and complex machine that could take people to the past. When the T-rex emerges from the mist, the author describes its hugeness and magnificence in the forest. It had “great oiled, resilient, striding legs” towering thirty feet above the trees with pebbled skin that gleamed “like a mail of a terrible warrior” (Bradbury 6).
Likewise, the author uses a simile to show the greatness of the T-rex and its impact on the ground when it falls. The author states that the dinosaur’s fall was “Like a stone idol, like a mountain avalanche,” demonstrating the impact of the fall and the possible implications it could cause due to destruction (Hoffman 240). As the story ends, the result of the effect is seen in the way everything has changed in the future. Thus, the fall of the T-rex had significant meaning in the short since it led to a butterfly effect that changed the future.
The Importance of Bradbury’s “A Sound of Thunder” Themes Today
The themes from the short story have significant importance in society today. The central theme shows that actions have consequences regardless of how small they may be. Today, people face many challenges in making decisions regarding careers, relationships, employment opportunities, politics, health, and economics. A decision made by one individual can create a butterfly effect, affecting a larger population that did not take part in the decision-making process (Paton 88).
For instance, the coronavirus might have originated from a careless mistake during lab experiments, researching diseases and medicine. The virus created a butterfly effect affecting numerous global aspects, including many deaths, sicknesses, political, social, and economic instability, and unrest (Paton 88). Thus, individuals must be careful in handling essential matters since every action counts regardless of significance.
Consequently, human hubris is the cause of many awful things that are happening today. Pride and self-confidence have led to a thirst for power, resulting in acting willfully to obtain one’s desires. Human hubris significantly contributes to today’s economic, social, and political tensions. Every world leader wants power and recognition, which leads to rivalry and wars, which affect the ordinary citizen.
Apart from politics, the economic and social sector has become a hub for power struggles, with numerous companies and individuals competing to create the best technological devices and services (Atanasoski & Kalindi 97). Like the time machine, these technological advancements can negatively affect populations globally, leading to a butterfly effect. For instance, the advancements have led to environmental hazards and climate change, which has caused a butterfly effect in climatic conditions, seasons, and the production of food (Trenberth 477). Although individuals from the technological industry are in control of their devices and services, rapid advancements can get out of hand and have severe implications. Thus, humans should reconsider their pride, self-confidence, and ambition for future sustainability.
Conclusion
Bradbury’s story shares insightful and mind-provoking themes that are significant today. Humans have embarked on creating technological advancements that may have substantial implications on Earth, affecting humanity and nature. Telling the story of a time machine shows how people can meddle in things beyond their comprehension, which can lead to disasters.
Conversely, man’s actions have consequences regardless of the action’s insignificance. Eckles’ choices and actions led to the ripple effect, which had negative implications for the future. The author explains the themes using several literary devices such as similes, imagery, and metaphors to convey the message. Thus, the story’s cautionary message is communicated effectively, giving the audience something to consider as they face everyday choices that could have significant consequences.
Works Cited
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Paton, Carol. “Corona, the Butterfly That Flapped Its Wings.” International Review of Philanthropy and Social Investment, vol. 1, no. 1, 2020, pp. 87–88. Web.
Trenberth, Kevin E. “Climate Change Caused by Human Activities Is Happening and It Already Has Major Consequences.” Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law, vol. 36, no. 4, 2018, pp. 463–481. Web.