Thomas Edison's family life also had some sad elements. His mother was an important figure in his early life, but as he grew older, he was so consumed by his work that it might have affected his relationships. His focus on inventions meant long hours in the laboratory, which could have led to a certain estrangement from his family. This is a sad part of his story as he may have missed out on some family experiences in his pursuit of innovation.
One sad aspect of Thomas Edison's story was his rivalry with Nikola Tesla. Edison promoted direct current (DC) while Tesla advocated for alternating current (AC). Edison tried to discredit AC through some unethical means, like promoting the use of AC in the electrocution of animals to show it was dangerous. This bitter rivalry was sad as it pitted two great minds against each other in a rather unproductive and cut - throat way.
Thomas Edison faced many failures before achieving success. He had numerous unsuccessful attempts at inventing the incandescent light bulb. Each failure must have been a source of sadness and disappointment for him. He had to endure financial difficulties and the doubts of others. However, he persevered, but those years of struggle were filled with a sense of melancholy as he constantly faced setbacks.