Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions
Summary
Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions, published in 1884 by English schoolmaster Edwin Abbott Abbott, is a satirical novella that has become a classic of mathematical fiction. Set in a two-dimensional world inhabited by geometric shapes, the book offers pointed social commentary on Victorian society while exploring profound concepts of dimensionality. Though initially overlooked, Flatland gained renewed attention in the 20th century for its prescient ideas about higher dimensions. The story has inspired numerous adaptations, including a 2007 feature film of the same name.
Plot
Set in a two-dimensional world called Flatland, the story follows a Square who narrates his experiences. The first half of the novella describes the social structure and customs of this flat world, where geometric shapes make up the inhabitants. Women are simple line segments, while men are polygons with more sides indicating higher social status.
On New Year's Eve, the Square has a dream where he visits a one-dimensional world called Lineland. Unable to convince the inhabitants of Lineland about the existence of a second dimension, the Square is then visited by a Sphere from a three-dimensional world. The Sphere attempts to explain the concept of a third dimension to the Square, eventually taking him to experience Spaceland firsthand. From there, they observe the leaders of Flatland acknowledging the Sphere's existence but ordering a cover-up.
Upon returning to Flatland, the Square tries to spread the word about the third dimension but is met with disbelief and hostility. He is eventually imprisoned for his heretical ideas. The story concludes with the Square writing his memoir from prison, hoping future generations will be able to see beyond their two-dimensional existence.
Themes
• Exploration of spatial dimensions
• Social satire and critique of Victorian society
• Rigid class hierarchy and social inequality
• Limitations of perspective and perception
• Resistance to new ideas and change
• Gender roles and discrimination
• Mathematical and geometric concepts
Setting
The setting of Flatland takes place in a two-dimensional world inhabited by geometric shapes. The story unfolds in the late 19th century, mirroring the Victorian era of Abbott's time. This fictional universe exists on a flat plane, where all inhabitants can only perceive length and width, but not height or depth.
Within Flatland, there are various regions and social strata. The lower classes, represented by triangles and other simpler shapes, occupy certain areas, while the more complex polygons and circles inhabit more prestigious locales. The narrator, A. Square, resides in a region befitting his middle-class status as a professional.
The novella also explores other dimensional realms, including Pointland (a zero-dimensional world), Lineland (a one-dimensional world), and Spaceland (a three-dimensional world). These excursions serve to highlight the limitations of Flatland's two-dimensional existence and provide a framework for Abbott's social commentary and mathematical explorations.
Characters
• A. Square: The narrator and protagonist, a square-shaped inhabitant of Flatland who discovers the third dimension
• The Sphere: A three-dimensional being who visits Flatland and introduces A. Square to Spaceland
• The King of Lineland: Ruler of the one-dimensional world A. Square visits in a dream
• The Monarch of Pointland: Sole inhabitant of the zero-dimensional world A. Square encounters
• A. Square's Wife: A straight line, as all women are in Flatland
• A. Square's Grandson: A hexagon, demonstrating social mobility in Flatland
• A. Square's Brother: Another square who is imprisoned with A. Square
• The Circles: The priest class and highest social rank in Flatland
• Irregular Polygons: Lower-class citizens with uneven sides who face discrimination
Quick facts
• It was first published anonymously in 1884 under the pseudonym “A Square"
• The book is both a satire of Victorian society and an exploration of dimensional geometry
• Abbott was a schoolmaster and Shakespearean scholar, not a mathematician
• The story is narrated by a two-dimensional being called A Square who lives in Flatland
• Women in Flatland are depicted as straight lines, while men are polygons
• The social hierarchy in Flatland is based on the number of sides a polygon has
• Circles are considered the highest class in Flatland society
• The book explores concepts of one-, two-, three- and four-dimensional worlds
• It has been adapted into several films, including a feature-length movie in 2007
• Influential scientists like Carl Sagan and Stephen Hawking have referenced Flatland in their work
About the author
Edwin A. Abbott
Edwin A. Abbott, born in 1838 in London, was a renowned British theologian, educator, and author. He received his education at the City of London School and St John's College, Cambridge, where he excelled in classics, mathematics, and theology. Abbott's academic prowess led him to become a fellow of his college and later take orders in 1862.
At the remarkably young age of 26, Abbott was appointed headmaster of the City of London School in 1865. During his tenure, he oversaw the education of future Prime Minister H. H. Asquith. Abbott's career in education was marked by his progressive and open-minded approach to both teaching and theology. He retired from his position in 1889 to focus on his literary and theological pursuits.
Abbott's literary contributions were diverse and significant. He authored several theological works, including anonymously published religious romances such as Philochristus (1878) and Onesimus (1882). His Shakespearian Grammar (1870) is considered a lasting contribution to English philology. However, Abbott is best known for his 1884 novella Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions, a satirical work exploring the concept of dimensions through a two-dimensional world.
Throughout his life, Abbott remained committed to both education and theological discourse. He wrote numerous educational textbooks and contributed to theological discussions through works like The Kernel and the Husk (1886) and his article “The Gospels” in the Encyclopædia Britannica. Abbott's legacy extends beyond his time, with Flatland experiencing a revival in popularity among science fiction enthusiasts in the modern era. He passed away in 1926, leaving behind a rich body of work that continues to inspire and educate.