In "A Sound of Thunder," the butterfly symbolizes the concept of the butterfly effect. The butterfly effect is the theory that small changes in the initial conditions of a system can lead to significant and unpredictable outcomes in the future. This idea is portrayed through the time travelers' encounter with a single butterfly in the prehistoric era. When one of the members of the hunting party accidentally steps on the butterfly, they unknowingly alter the course of history. Upon their return to the present, they find that their small action in the past has resulted in drastic changes in the present world. Therefore, the butterfly symbolizes the inherent interconnectedness and fragility of time and the idea that even the smallest actions can have profound consequences.
