A Sound of Thunder

by

Ray Bradbury

Lesperance Character Analysis

Lesperance is another guide employed by Time Safari, Inc. His duty is to travel back in time ahead of a scheduled safari and find a dinosaur that is going to die anyway, then loop back again to mark the creature with red paint. The process is supposed to ensure that the hunters do not disturb the natural order. Lesperance appears more sympathetic than does Mr. Travis, protesting his punishment of Eckels.

Lesperance Quotes in A Sound of Thunder

The A Sound of Thunder quotes below are all either spoken by Lesperance or refer to Lesperance. 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:
Cause and Effect Theme Icon
).
A Sound of Thunder Quotes

Not knowing it, we might kill an important animal, a small bird, a roach, a flower even, thus destroying an important link in a growing species. […] The stomp of your foot, on one mouse, could start an earthquake, the effects of which could shake our earth and destinies down through time, to their very foundations.

Related Characters: Mr. Travis (speaker), Mr. Eckels, Lesperance
Related Symbols: Butterfly
Page Number: 214-215
Explanation and Analysis:

“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.

Related Characters: Mr. Eckels (speaker), Mr. Travis, Lesperance
Related Symbols: Thunder
Page Number: 218-219
Explanation and Analysis:

We can’t take a trophy back to the Future. The body has to stay right here where it would have died originally, so the insects, birds, and bacteria can get at it, as they were intended to. Everything in balance

Related Characters: Lesperance (speaker)
Related Symbols: Butterfly
Page Number: 220
Explanation and Analysis:

This ruins us! We’ll forfeit! Thousands of dollars of insurance! We guarantee no one leaves the Path. He left it. Oh, the fool! I’ll have to report to the government. They might revoke our licence to travel. Who knows what he’s done to Time, to History!

Related Characters: Mr. Travis (speaker), Mr. Eckels, Lesperance
Page Number: 221
Explanation and Analysis:
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Lesperance Quotes in A Sound of Thunder

The A Sound of Thunder quotes below are all either spoken by Lesperance or refer to Lesperance. 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:
Cause and Effect Theme Icon
).
A Sound of Thunder Quotes

Not knowing it, we might kill an important animal, a small bird, a roach, a flower even, thus destroying an important link in a growing species. […] The stomp of your foot, on one mouse, could start an earthquake, the effects of which could shake our earth and destinies down through time, to their very foundations.

Related Characters: Mr. Travis (speaker), Mr. Eckels, Lesperance
Related Symbols: Butterfly
Page Number: 214-215
Explanation and Analysis:

“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.

Related Characters: Mr. Eckels (speaker), Mr. Travis, Lesperance
Related Symbols: Thunder
Page Number: 218-219
Explanation and Analysis:

We can’t take a trophy back to the Future. The body has to stay right here where it would have died originally, so the insects, birds, and bacteria can get at it, as they were intended to. Everything in balance

Related Characters: Lesperance (speaker)
Related Symbols: Butterfly
Page Number: 220
Explanation and Analysis:

This ruins us! We’ll forfeit! Thousands of dollars of insurance! We guarantee no one leaves the Path. He left it. Oh, the fool! I’ll have to report to the government. They might revoke our licence to travel. Who knows what he’s done to Time, to History!

Related Characters: Mr. Travis (speaker), Mr. Eckels, Lesperance
Page Number: 221
Explanation and Analysis: