In Ray Bradbury’s short story “A Sound of Thunder,” the primary antagonist is not a single character but rather the concept of hubris and the unforeseen consequences of man’s actions. The story revolves around a time-traveling safari company that allows clients to hunt dinosaurs in the past. The main character, Eckels, represents humanity’s reckless desire to manipulate and control nature without fully grasping the potential repercussions.
As Eckels steps off the designated path during the hunt, he inadvertently crushes a butterfly, which leads to significant and unforeseen changes in the future. This event symbolizes how small actions can have monumental impacts—a central theme in the narrative. The real antagonist, therefore, is the destructive force of carelessness and the inability to respect the natural order of life.