Electricity

Electricity symbolizes the advancement of science and of social mobility.

What makes electricity remarkable and makes it stand out from other inventions is that it already exists as a force in nature. The challenge, attempted throughout the nineteenth century, was in harnessing it, which was deemed to be virtually impossible - “Electricity was a force. Taming electrical current would be like bending gravity to man’s will. Like traveling through tim” (472). Whoever could harness electricity would be considered a genius, and their name would go down in history.

Edison managed to build upon the efforts of many before him. He also figured out how to most effectively sell the light bulb - the new home of electricity. He propelled himself from a humble background to one of the most famous inventors in history. Likewise, Tesla came from an obscure background. After his arrival in America, he...