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Flatland
Flatland
by Edwin A。 Abbott 1884
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Flatland
PART 1
THIS WORLD
SECTION 1 Of the Nature of Flatland
I call our world Flatland； not because we call it so； but to make its
nature clearer to you； my happy readers； who are privileged to live in
Space。
Imagine a vast sheet of paper on which straight Lines； Triangles；
Squares； Pentagons； Hexagons； and other figures； instead of remaining
fixed in their places； move freely about； on or in the surface； but without
the power of rising above or sinking below it； very much like shadows
only hard with luminous edgesand you will then have a pretty correct
notion of my country and countrymen。 Alas； a few years ago； I should
have said 〃my universe：〃 but now my mind has been opened to higher
views of things。 In such a country； you will perceive at once that it is
impossible that there should be anything of what you call a 〃solid〃 kind；
but I dare say you will suppose that we could at least distinguish by sight
the Triangles； Squares； and other figures； moving about as I have
described them。 On the contrary； we could see nothing of the kind； not at
least so as to distinguish one figure from another。 Nothing was visible； nor
could be visible； to us； except Straight Lines； and the necessity of this I
will speedily demonstrate。
Place a penny on the middle of one of your tables in Space； and
leaning over it； look down upon it。 It will appear a circle。
But now； drawing back to the edge of the table； gradually lower your
eye （thus bringing yourself more and more into the condition of the
inhabitants of Flatland）； and you will find the penny becoming more and
more oval to your view； and at last when you have placed your eye exactly
on the edge of the table （so that you are； as it were； actually a Flatlander）
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Flatland
the penny will then have ceased to appear oval at all； and will have
become； so far as you can see； a straight line。
The same thing would happen if you were to treat in the same way a
Triangle； or a Square； or any other figure cut out from pasteboard。 As soon
as you look at it with your eye on the edge of the table； you will find that it
ceases to appear to you as a figure； and that it becomes in appearance a
straight line。 Take for example an equilateral Trianglewho represents
with us a Tradesman of the respectable class。 Figure 1 represents the
Tradesman as you would see him while you were bending over him from
above； figures 2 and 3 represent the Tradesman； as you would see him if
your eye were close to the level； or all but on the level of the table； and if
your eye were quite on the level of the table （and that is how we see him
in Flatland） you would see nothing but a straight line。
When I was in Spaceland I heard that your sailors have very similar
experiences while they traverse your seas and discern some distant island
or coast lying on the horizon。 The far…off land may have bays； forelands；
angles in and out to any number and extent； yet at a distance you see none
of these （unless indeed your sun shines bright upon them revealing the
projections and retirements by means of light and shade）； nothing but a
grey unbroken line upon the water。
Well； that is just what we see when one of our triangular or other
acquaintances comes towards us in Flatland。 As there is neither sun with
us； nor any light of such a kind as to make shadows； we have none of the
helps to the sight that you have in Spaceland。 If our friend comes closer to
us we see his line becomes larger； if he leaves us it becomes smaller； but
still he looks like a straight line； be he a Triangle； Square； Pentagon；
Hexagon； Circle； what you will a straight Line he looks and nothing else。
You may perhaps ask how under these disadvantagous circumstances
we are able to distinguish our friends from one another： but the answer to
this very natural question will be more fitly and easily given when I come
to describe the inhabitants of Flatland。 For the present let me defer this
subject； and say a word or two about the climate and houses in our
country。
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Flatland
SECTION 2 Of the Climate and Houses in
Flatland
As with you； so also with us； there are four points of the compass
North； South； East； and West。
There being no sun nor other heavenly bodies； it is impossible for us to
determine the North in the usual way； but we have a method of our own。
By a Law of Nature with us； there is a constant attraction to the South； and；
although in temperate climates this is very slight so that even a Woman
in reasonable health can journey several furlongs northward without much
difficulty yet the hampering effort of the southward attraction is quite
sufficient to serve as a compass in most parts of our earth。 Moreover； the
rain （which falls at stated intervals） coming always from the North； is an
additional assistance； and in the towns we have the guidance of the houses；
which of course have their side…walls running for the most part North and
South； so that the roofs may keep off the rain from the North。 In the
country； where there are no houses； the trunks of the trees serve as some
sort of guide。 Altogether； we have not so much difficulty as might be
expected in determining our bearings。
Yet in our more temperate regions； in which the southward attraction is
hardly felt； walking sometimes in a perfectly desolate plain where there
have been no houses nor trees to guide me； I have been occasionally
compelled to remain stationary for hours together； waiting till the rain
came before continuing my journey。 On the weak and aged； and especially
on delicate Females； the force of attraction t