Abbott in his book Flatland

In his novel Flatland, Abbott uses imaginary characters that play a variety of roles to discuss issues that are happening in society. In the introduction, Abbott argues that Square is his friend and that he has taken several steps to make sure that people in flatland are aware of what is going on in other places. The Square, Triangle, and Circle are among the main characters in Abbott's book, which is set in a flatland. In terms of socioeconomic status, Square belongs to the middle class, a group whose members frequently engage in power disputes with other members of the community. The community of Polygons (nobility), circles (priests), equilateral triangles (merchants), isosceles triangles (soldiers and non-specialists) and single lines (women) are living in a society full of discrimination and strict policies which aid in the control of the activities the society members undertake. In various occasions, Square attempts to explain to his tribesmen the existence of other personalities, but the group does not agree with him and instead becomes angry thus send him to jail. The Sphere, a member of the Spaceland also visits Square to explain various contentious issues, but the former threatens the latter with death.

The book mentioned above is an interesting article which offers reliable information concerning astronomy in the modern society. Notably, the power struggles between the various groups in Flatland significantly reminisces the action of the personalities in the contemporary world, where people are initiating multiple strategies for ensuring that they control the resources available in the community. Besides, from the book Flatland, a reader observes the impacts of various doctrines on the need for changes in the welfare of the society members. The issues that Square addresses are similar to the manner in which people perceive astronomy. Specifically, the myths that people hold towards the weather makes it challenging for the astronomers to efficiently sensitize the community about the impending dangers and the seasons, which are favorable for planting.

Throughout the book, Abbott addresses the various strategies, which the Circle (government) uses in the course of ensuring the lower class personalities do not improve their economic statuses. However, the concepts in the book above significantly differ with the situations in the modern world whereby the government initiates various strategies for improving the welfare of humankind. For instance, most states have established departments that deal with weather forecasting to help advise the planters on the proper approach to planting and the appropriate seeds that farmers need to plant.

Through Flatland, readers observe the effects of religion on the progress of the society. Notably, the policies and teachings the religious leaders advance in the community are the principal causes of the problems women face undergo. Specifically, the Priest argues that it is essential for the leaders to abolish the education of women as a way of increasing the power of the males over women. He claims, "On the simple ground of the enfeebling of the Male intellect, I rest this humble request to the highest Authorities to reconsider the regulations of Female education."(Abbott 40). The claims in the book significantly contradict the activities in the modern world, where a majority of the religious leaders and other lobby groups have established effective policies to help improve the statuses of women as a way of ensuring gender equality.

In the book that Abbott authored, Square is the principal protagonist who perceives himself as the leader of the revolution in the Flatland. First, he dreams of the Lineland and ponders about his status as a two-dimensional object. Also, he argues about the Pointland and tries to make the lines accept their mistakes. It is also evident that Square is not happy with his structure after interacting with the Spaceland representative, the Sphere. Indeed, the activities of Square significantly reflect the problems astronomers undergo in the course of predicting and explaining weather conditions. For instance, community leaders and other government officials often ridicule astronomers when the scientist's predictions are not accurate. Furthermore, some societies reprimand the astronomers for attempting to challenge the false beliefs that the people hold concerning nature.

Abbott concludes the book with a recount of the manner in which Square tried to use other means to explain the concept of three-dimension to others in the society and the results of such activity. The people who were present during the presentation did not understand the concepts the protagonist above was trying to explain thus showing the problems astronomers undergo while convincing the society about climate changes. However, the outcome of Square's performance was a jail term, which he is still serving. Square claims that his brother occasionally visits him in prison, but the character above is optimistic of becoming free. He says, "Seven years have passed, and I am still a prisoner, and -- if I ignore the occasional visits of my brother -- debarred from any companionship save that of my jailers (Abbott 82). The statement above manifests the fate that befalls people who strive to oppose the beliefs that the society holds concerning nature.





Work cited

Abbott, Edwin A. Flatland. , 2013. Internet resource