INVENTION IN WONDERLAND

There’s no doubt that the Victorian era was a time of invention. The industrial revolution is an indicator of that. There were three basic types of inventions. Those that worked and were usefull, those that worked but were of no practical use, and those that were totally ridiculous. The Knight in Through the Looking-Glass is kind enough to give us an example of each type of invention.

“‘I see you’re admiring my little box,’ the Knight said in a friendly tone. ‘It’s my own invention - to keep clothes and sandwiches in. You see I carry it up-side down, so that the rain can’t get in.’
‘But the things can get out,’ Alice gently remarked. ‘Do you know that the lid’s open?’
‘I didn’t know it,’ the Knight said, a shade of vexation passing over his face. ‘Then all the things must have fallen out! And the box is no use without them.’

The idea of using a box which keeps the rain out sounds very usefull, and actually would be of great use to the Knight if he would only use it correctly. However, with his mind constantly on other inventions, the Knight has forgotten how to use this box correctly.

'I was wondering what the mousetrap was for,’ said Alice. ‘It isn’t very likely there would be any mice on the horse’s back.’ ‘Not very likely, perhaps,’ said the Knight; ‘but, if they do come, I don’t choose to have them running all about.

Now, a mousetrap most likely works quite well, but when it’s placed on a horse’s back, it quickly loses practicality. This is an example of a good invention being used to the point of ab-surdity.

‘You see,’ he went on after a pause, ‘it’s as well to be provided for everything. That’s the reason the horse has all those anklets round his feet.’
‘But what are they for?’ Alice asked in a tone of great curiosity.
‘To guard against the bites of sharks,’ the Knight replied.”

This third passage demonstrates the totally useless inventions made in the Victorian era. Not only does this invention hinder the usefulness of the horse, but there is little to no chance that the horse will need protecting from shark bites.