In Ray Bradbury's short story "A Sound of Thunder," Travis is a key character who undergoes a transformation throughout the narrative. Travis is the tough and authoritarian safari guide who leads a group of hunters back in time to hunt dinosaurs. Here's how Travis's character develops:
1. **Initial Authoritarianism**: At the beginning of the story, Travis is portrayed as authoritarian and militaristic. He insists on strict adherence to the rules of time travel and threatens severe consequences for any deviation. He emphasizes the importance of not altering the past.
2. **Fear and Desperation**: As the story progresses, Travis becomes increasingly fearful and desperate. When one of the hunters accidentally steps off the designated path and crushes a butterfly, Travis panics. He realizes the potential consequences of this seemingly small act and becomes agitated.
3. **Regret and Resignation**: As the group returns to the present, they discover that subtle changes in the past have altered the course of history. Travis realizes that the world they've returned to is different from the one they left. He experiences a sense of regret and perhaps even guilt for the part he played in the altered timeline. He understands the gravity of the situation.
4. **Symbol of the Butterfly Effect**: Travis's character transformation serves as a symbol of the butterfly effect itself, where small actions in the past can have profound and unintended consequences in the future. His initial authoritarianism gives way to a deeper understanding of the fragility of time and the far-reaching impact of seemingly insignificant events.
In summary, Travis starts the story as a strict and authoritarian guide but evolves into a character who deeply grasps the consequences of time travel and the delicate nature of the timeline. His character development underscores the story's central theme of the butterfly effect and the idea that even minor actions can have monumental repercussions.