In 1889, Thomas Edison publicly opposed the use of alternating current (AC), claiming it was a waste of time and that nobody would adopt it. This stance was part of the larger 'War of Currents' between Edison, who championed direct current (DC), and proponents of AC. Edison's opposition highlighted the intense competition in the emerging electrical industry and the eventual triumph of AC as the standard for electricity transmission.

Thomas Edison's opposition to alternating current reflected broader debates on innovation and progress during the Second Industrial Revolution. Poets began to explore themes of electricity and power, capturing the anxieties and hopes of a rapidly changing world.