# How the Sphere, Having in Vain Tried Words, Resorted to Deeds explained — Flatland

> Chapter companion for Flatland by Edwin A. Abbott.

## What happens

The Sphere, unable to convince the Square through words, demonstrates the reality of the third dimension by performing miraculous deeds: retrieving a tablet from a locked cupboard and giving the Square a painless touch from within. The Square, still resistant, attacks the Sphere, who then forcibly lifts him out of Flatland into Spaceland.

## Themes in this chapter

### Perception and Reality

The Sphere's deeds challenge the Square's perception of reality, demonstrating that what appears solid and closed is actually open from a higher dimension.

### Knowledge and Ignorance

The Square's ignorance prevents him from understanding the Sphere's demonstrations, highlighting the difficulty of conveying knowledge across dimensional boundaries.

### The Limits of Imagination

The Square cannot conceive of a third dimension despite clear evidence, showing the limits of a mind constrained by its own experience.

## Character check-ins

### The Narrator (A Square)

The Square stubbornly refuses the Sphere's teachings, attacks him physically, and is ultimately lifted into Spaceland against his will.

### The Sphere

The Sphere, frustrated by the Square's refusal to listen to reason, resorts to demonstrating the third dimension through deeds, including retrieving a locked tablet and giving a touch from within.

### The Stranger

The Stranger is the Sphere in disguise, initially appearing as a magician before revealing his true nature.

## Key lines

> Deeds, and not words, shall proclaim the truth.

Actions, not arguments, will prove what is real.

_The Sphere shifts from persuasion to demonstration to overcome the Square's stubbornness._

> What you call Solid things are really superficial; what you call Space is really nothing but a great Plane.

The objects you think of as solid are actually flat surfaces; your entire universe is just a plane.

_The Sphere explains the fundamental nature of Flatland from the perspective of Spaceland._

> A slight upward or downward motion would enable you to see all that I can see.

If you could move just a little in a direction you don't know, you would perceive everything I perceive.

_The Sphere invites the Square to transcend his dimensional limitations._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/flatland_se/chapters/xvii-how-the-sphere-having-in-vain-tried-words-resorted-to-deeds
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/flatland_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/flatland_se/chapters