A Square Analysis

Set in the world of Flatland, A. Square is a plane form living in a two dimensional reality. His place in the social hierarchy is in the middle class, and he describes effectively the other classes within his world. This dangerous Women, or single lines, the dull yet powerful Isosceles Triangles, or soldiers and laymen, the

Equilateral Triangle, or tradesmen, the Nobility class, or Polygon class, and the Circles, or Priests, all combine to make a social order within Flatland. Their existence is complete with class strife, discrimination, alteration, regulation, wars, and power struggles, just as any other society in existence.

When A. Square dreams of another world, Lineland, he is struck by a need to explain to the inhabitants the error

Square is soon visited by a stranger claiming to be of a third dimension. Just as he felt the need to teach Lineland individuals the error of their views, the stranger, Sphere, attempts the same with A. Square. His efforts through analogy, description, explanation, and action all fail, however, as A. Square believes his world to be superior to all others. However, when A. Square threatens Sphere, he is thrust into the third dimension to see for himself the reality of a solid existence. A. Square learns that each millennium, a member of the land of Spaceland comes to Flatland to explain the third dimension. He and the Sphere listen, however, as the Circles of Flatland plan to imprison or kill anyone during this millennium change who claims a visit from such a creature. When Sphere enters the hall of Circles, he is threatened by death, but disappears again into the third dimension. Upon returning to Spaceland, A. Square tries in vain to force Sphere to show him other dimensions, but Sphere, not knowing of these dimensions, becomes angry and A. Square is sent back to Flatland to teach others of the third dimension. On his return, A. Square has a vision of Pointland, the land of no dimensions. In the vision, the