Preface to the Second and Revised Edition, 1884 Summary

The editor is attempting to defend some aspects of Flatland. Referring to the square in the novel as his friend who is now old and senile, the author is acting as his interpreter, and is discussing common criticisms of the novel. First, the author dictates A. Square's defense against the criticism that the inhabitants of Flatland must understand the dimension of height, since they can conceive the thickness of their neighbors. A. Square defends this by noting height in Flatland is immeasurable and implies direction, of which Flatland inhabitants cannot conceive. Thus, while inhabitants understand another dimension, they see it as brightness rather than height, since without light, the line they can see disappears.

The author then mentions the criticism of A. Square's apparent hatred of Women in the novel, as...