Literary Devices In A Sound Of Thunder

Mariah Jensen

Mrs. Ruiz

English 102: Literary Analysis

18 April 2023

Current Actions Are Essential to Future Outcomes

It is in the hands of humankind to preserve or destroy planet Earth. Indeed, as Mr. Travis said, “The stomp of your foot, on one mouse, could start an earthquake, the effects of which could shake our earth and destinies down through Time, to their very foundations” (Bradbury 141). In the story “A Sound of Thunder,” written by author Ray Bradbury, he shares a tale set in the year 2055. A man named Eckels paid for the opportunity to travel back in time to experience the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of hunting a dinosaur in an ancient jungle. Before exiting the time machine, his safari guide, Mr. Travis, explained the importance

Moreover, it is up to humans to protect not only themselves but the plants and animals they need to live. In Bradbury’s story, Eckels, still unsure of why his actions in the past had consequences on the future, continued to interrogate Mr. Travis. Consequently, making it more personal for Eckels, Travis expounded on his argument by saying, “A dead mouse here makes an insect imbalance there, a population disproportion later, a bad harvest further on, a depression, mass starvation, and finally, a change in social temperament in far-flung countries” (Bradbury p. 141). This morbid thought of the destruction of nature, shared by Travis, makes the theme more personal for the reader and Eckels. If the thought of destroying the planet is not enough of a motivation to preserve nature, indeed the protection of mankind should be. Bradbury’s example of how current destruction can and will affect the following years opens the reader’s perspective on why they should care for what they have. This idea shared by Bradbury can also be seen as a call to action to preserve nature now. Evidently, nature preservation is crucial for the security of the human

Moreover, he explains that even the most insignificant decisions will have a lasting impact. Before exiting the ship, Eckels asks, “Then it wouldn’t pay for us even to touch the grass?” (Bradbury p. 141). Eckels questions why preserving something as seemingly insignificant as the grass is crucial. Mr. Travis replies, “Crushing certain plants could add up infinitesimally. A little error here would multiply in sixty million years, all out of proportion” (Bradbury 141). Simply put, Bradbury’s theme is that every single action has an effect, and it is unknown how big or small that impact truly is. This idea of every action having a consequence creates a moment of reflection for the readers, reminding them to be careful with how they handle things. While some may believe this has a negative connotation, others may view it as an idea of hope. Indeed, every action has an inevitable outcome, which implies that every good action can bring about a good result. When linking this idea to the theme of the preservation of nature, readers can recognize that their good actions will make a