Discussion Topic
Travis's Character and Role in "A Sound of Thunder"
Summary:
In Ray Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder," Travis is a safari guide leading time-traveling hunting expeditions. Characterized by his military-like demeanor, he is straightforward, authoritative, and strict about following rules to prevent catastrophic changes to the timeline. Travis's role involves ensuring safety and adherence to protocol, exemplified by his harsh treatment of Eckels for deviating from the path. His decisive and uncompromising nature is highlighted by his likely execution of Eckels for altering the present.
Who is Travis in "A Sound of Thunder" and how would you describe him?
Travis is one of the Time Safari guides. This means that he leads a group of rich or adventurous people on trips that go back in time to do various things like hunt and kill dinosaurs. He's the guide that has to deal with Eckels. He's direct and to the point with every person that he interacts with, and he's not a person who is okay with jokes or a cavalier attitude when it comes to something as serious as going back in time. He is worried about the lives of his clients because it would be bad business for any of them to die, and so he also is very serious about following rules and regulations. It's why he's so adamant that none of the people leave the path. Travis is also a man who is used to giving orders and having them followed. This is evidenced by his...
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conversation with Eckels about the dangers of killing anything other than what they are supposed to kill. Travis does explain it, but readers definitely get the sense that Travis isn't happy about having to explain it in the first place. He tells the group what he expects of them, and he expects them to do it. He doesn't want to be questioned about it.
"So they're dead," said Eckels. "So what?"
"So what?" answered Travis a little angrily.
What is Travis's role in "A Sound of Thunder" by Ray Bradbury?
The character Travis in the story "The Sound of Thunder" is the tour guide who takes hunters into the past to kill dinosaurs. He is strong, well trained, and a "man's man." He is the one who explains the rules to the hunters.
Travis has a bit of a cruel steak in him, as evidenced by the way he makes Eckles go back to get the bullets out of the dinosaur as a way to punish him for chickening out and leaving the path. He is also the man who, almost certainly, kills Eckles at the end of the story for mucking up the "present."
What is Travis's personality in "A Sound of Thunder"?
Travis is one of the safari guides, and he presents himself in a way that is reminiscent of a former military man. He doesn't waste time with small talk or pleasantries. He also isn't shy about "telling it how it is." He is straightforward and to the point about time travel, its risks, and his expectations of each of the men going with him to hunt the dinosaur. He gives information to others that is necessary for a successful trip. Travis knows that what they are doing is dangerous and that screw ups could have huge repercussions. That's why he is so emphatic that the men stay on the path.
"Stay on the Path. Don’t go off it. I repeat. Don’t go off. For any reason! If you fall off, there’s a penalty. And don’t shoot any animal we don’t okay.”
Travis holds himself to a high standard of excellence, and he thinks other people should do this as well. He has very little patience or tolerance for men like Eckels. This becomes clear once Eckels makes it clear that he doesn't think the death of a single mouse is that big of a deal.
“So they’re dead,” said Eckels. “So what?”
“So what?” Travis snorted quietly.
Finally, Travis is a man that believes in quick and immediate judgment/punishment. It's not clear if Travis shoots and kills Eckels or himself at the end of the story. He's either punishing Eckels for stepping on the butterfly, or Travis is making sure that he (himself) doesn't have to answer to the authorities. Either way, Travis makes an immediate and final decision based on what has happened.