compare and contrast the ways these other worlds impacted the real world for the characters in the books the secret life of walter mitty and the sound of thunder
In both "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" and "A Sound of Thunder," the characters experience other worlds that have a significant impact on their lives in the real world. However, the ways in which these other worlds impact the characters differ in several aspects.
In "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty," Walter Mitty uses his imagination to escape the mundane reality of his life. He daydreams of various other worlds where he is a hero or a skilled professional, such as a Navy pilot or a renowned surgeon. These fantasies provide Walter with a temporary respite from his dissatisfaction and discontentment. The other worlds he creates offer him confidence, excitement, and a sense of significance that he lacks in his everyday existence. However, these fantasies don't have a tangible impact on his real life. Instead, they serve as a coping mechanism to deal with the monotony and disappointment he experiences.
On the other hand, "A Sound of Thunder" presents a different kind of other world and its consequences. The story revolves around time travel, where characters venture into the prehistoric past. The main protagonist, Eckels, changes the course of history by accidentally stepping off a path and crushing a butterfly. This seemingly insignificant act dramatically alters the future when he returns. The impact of this small action is far-reaching, resulting in unexpected changes and chaos in the present world. The other world Eckels visits has a direct and irreversible impact on his reality, making it clear that altering the past can have severe consequences.
Another contrast between the two stories is the intention behind entering other worlds. In "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty," Walter uses his imagination as a form of escape from his unsatisfying reality. His fantasies allow him to briefly experience a different reality and temporarily forget his mundane life. In contrast, in "A Sound of Thunder," the characters embark on their time travel adventure with the intention of witnessing the prehistoric past and the thrill of hunting dinosaurs. However, their actions have unintended and disastrous consequences, highlighting the potential dangers of tampering with other worlds.
Overall, the impact of other worlds on the characters in these two books differs significantly. While Walter Mitty's other worlds are purely imaginary and serve as a means of temporary escape and emotional comfort, the other world in "A Sound of Thunder" has the potential to cause irreversible changes in the characters' present reality. Thus, the consequences of exploring other worlds vary from providing a fleeting emotional escape to permanently altering the course of history.