"Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions" is a satirical novella written by Edwin A. Abbott in 1884. The story is set in a two-dimensional world inhabited by geometric shapes, which serve as metaphors for the social hierarchy of Victorian society. The protagonist, a small square, narrates his experiences in this flat world, illustrating the limitations of dimensionality and perspective. Through his encounters, Abbott critiques rigid class structures and challenges the readers to think beyond their conventional realities.
The narrative intensifies when the square has a life-changing encounter with a three-dimensional being from Spaceland. This being introduces him to the concept of a third dimension, opening the square's mind to the existence of dimensions beyond his own. However, upon returning to Flatland to share this revelation, he faces ridicule and imprisonment, highlighting society's resistance to new ideas and the dangers of dogmatism.