Samenvatting
"Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions" is a novel written by Edwin A. Abbott in 1884. The story is set in a two-dimensional world called Flatland, where the inhabitants, geometrical shapes, are restricted to movement within two dimensions. The book satirizes Victorian society and explores the limitations of perception and understanding.
The protagonist, a square, discovers the existence of a one-dimensional world called Lineland and a three-dimensional world called Spaceland. He struggles to convince his fellow Flatlanders of their existence, as they are unable to comprehend anything outside of their own two-dimensional world. The square's encounters with these other worlds challenge his beliefs and expand his understanding of the universe.
Abbott's novel is a commentary on the limitations of human perception and the rigidity of social norms. The story also explores the concept of class and hierarchy, with the different shapes in Flatland occupying different societal roles based on their shape and size.
Overall, "Flatland" is a thought-provoking and entertaining work of science fiction that challenges readers to question their own perceptions of the world around them.