Prompt for “A Sound of Thunder”
The decisions that one makes clearly can have an impact on his/her life, how significant being a matter of debate. In “A Sound of Thunder,” Ray Bradbury examines how one’s decisions and resulting actions can dramatically alter the future. How does he employ Eckels as a character to prove this theme? How do Eckels’ decisions, especially those that may seem minor, turn out to be quite important? What changes result due to Eckels’ actions? Also, be sure to consider how Travis’ speech and his repeatedly warnings and their significance highlight Bradbury’s point. Ultimately, what is Bradbury attempting to communicate about the decisions that humans make through this story?
“A Sound of Thunder” Essay
Every day, people are faced with a wide variety of decisions, some seemingly minor, others potentially meaningful. People must choose what they will eat for breakfast but also must select a career path or college in the hope that their decision will lead to happiness or great success. At times, decisions may seem to have little impact on the lives of those making them. After all, what difference does it really make if one has eggs or pancakes for breakfast? Conversely, one’s choice of college will impact whom that person becomes friends with and perhaps whom he/she will ultimately marry. In reality, it is virtually impossible to know for certain whether any choice one makes will lead to a person’s happiness or his/her destruction. Therefore, some feel that they might as well be impulsive and “go with the flow,” not thinking too hard about what path they should choose, whereas some remain extremely indecisive, driving themselves mad, considering all of the possible ramifications of any choice they may make. In “A Sound of Thunder,” Eckels faces a variety of difficult decisions as he embarks on a quest to hunt dinosaurs in 60 million B.C. Though warned repeatedly about the potential consequences of making the “wrong”...