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Thunder in the story represents the inescapability of mortality as well as the dangers of human hubris. As a natural phenomenon, thunder underscores the fact that death is part of the natural order; it is a sometimes-frightening occurrence brought about by things beyond human control. These factors have contributed to the use of thunder in literature as a symbol or manifestation of divine power. In “A Sound of Thunder,” sounds of thunder notably herald the arrival of challenges to Eckels’s hubris—that is, to his belief in his ability to control life, death, and even time. Thunder comes up twice, once accompanying the dinosaur that Eckels intended to hunt, and again as the sound of a gunshot that presumably kills Eckels in the tale’s final moments; by first introducing thunder as the sound of the approaching deadly dinosaur, Bradbury is able to repeat the sound at the end of the story and imply that Mr. Travis shoots Eckels without stating it outright. In both cases, the sound emanates from a powerful creature or machine unaffected by humanity’s whims or desires. By invoking thunder’s divine associations in the context of mortal peril, Bradbury underscores the idea that even with technology allowing control over the flow of time, death cannot be fully conquered.
Thunder Quotes in A Sound of Thunder
The A Sound of Thunder quotes below all refer to the symbol of Thunder. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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A Sound of Thunder Quotes
The jungle was wide and full of twitterings, rustlings, murmurs, and sighs.
Suddenly it all ceased, as if someone had shut a door.
Silence.
A sound of thunder.
Out of the mist, one hundred yards away, came Tyrannosaurus rex.
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After Mr. Travis speaks about the importance of staying on the path and Lesperance explains that, although he has pre-tagged the dinosaur with paint, he does not know the outcome of their hunt, the safari party awaits the approach of the Tyrannosaurus Rex. In this passage, the small sounds of life in the prehistoric jungle suddenly fall silent as the predator approaches, giving the impression of stasis or death. The sudden silence is followed by the titular “sound of thunder,” an overwhelming natural phenomenon that will come to symbolize mortality. The thunder’s appearance here, at the approach of the Tyrannosaurus, Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. A
“It can’t be killed.” Eckels pronounced this verdict quietly, as if there could be no argument. He had weighed the evidence and this was his considered opinion. The rifle in his hands seemed a cap gun. “We were fools to come. This is impossible.” […] Eckels, not looking back, walked blindly to the edge of the Path, his gun limp in his arms, stepped off the Path, and walked, not knowing it, in the jungle.
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Following the terrifying thunder of its approach, Eckels is overwhelmed at the sight of the Tyrannosaurus Rex. He realizes that, in spite of all the careful preparations and equipment that have gone into the safari, there is a very real risk of death from this enormous creature. His desire to flee mortal danger leads him to wander off the path. Eckels goes into a numb, almost catatonic state, as if the mere approach of the Tyrannosaurus Rex and its thunderous footfalls have pushed him closer to death. Ironically, Eckels’ fear of immediate threats to his life leads him to commit Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commod
… “can’t we take it back, can’t we make it alive again? Can’t we start over? Can’t we—”
He did not move. Eyes shut, he waited, shivering. He heard Travis breathe loud in the room; he heard Travis shift his rifle, click the safety catch, and raise the weapon.
There was a sound of thunder.
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Realizing the gravity of what he has done, Eckels wants to go back in time and somehow fix his mistake. As the rest of the story has shown, however, even time travel is not enough to overcome death and gain total control over the flow of events. Eckels falls silent, realizing that his pleading will accomplish nothing. He simply waits for whatever fate will befall him. The centering of the story’s descriptions on Eckels’ perceptions give a visceral sense of the last moments of his life. He hears Travis, a man he knows to be angry and volatile, shift about Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum do
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Thunder Symbol Timeline in A Sound of Thunder
The timeline below shows where the symbol Thunder appears in A Sound of Thunder. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
A Sound of Thunder
...yet. Soon the forest goes quiet, and the T. rex approaches with a sound of thunder. Eckels is transfixed when he comes face to face with the creature. Observing its massive,...
(full context)
...rifle, and release the safety on his gun. The story ends with a sound of thunder.
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