In Lewis Carroll's "Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There," the nursery rhyme about Humpty Dumpty is mentioned, depicting him sitting on a wall before experiencing a great fall. The rhyme highlights the futility of trying to repair Humpty after his accident, emphasizing themes of fragility and the limits of intervention.
Throughout the story, the rhyme serves as a metaphor for situations that cannot be undone. Despite efforts from all the king's horses and men, Humpty cannot be put back together again, illustrating the idea that some mistakes or accidents are irreversible.