# The Sphere — Flatland character guide

> The Sphere in Flatland by Edwin A. Abbott.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Sphere, The Sphere, himself

**First appearance:** 0019-xv-concerning-a-stranger-from-spaceland

## Snapshot

A being of three dimensions who descends into Flatland to preach the Gospel of Space, armed with analogy, patience, and a short temper for flat logic.

## Who they are

He arrives as a Circle to the Square's eyes, growing and shrinking in ways that seem like conjuring, and reveals himself as a missionary of higher dimensions permitted to speak only once in a thousand years. His method is analogy — point to line, line to square, square to cube — but his frustration mounts when his pupil cannot follow, and he alternates between tenderness and imperious command. He matters because he forces the book's central question: what would it take to see past the limits of your own world?

## Relationships

### [The Stranger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/flatland_se/characters/the_stranger)

_psychological_

The Sphere and Stranger have a cryptic, possibly manipulative dynamic, with the Stranger being a counterpart or rival in dimensional knowledge.

### [The Circles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/flatland_se/characters/the_circles)

_psychological_

The Circles and Sphere have a distant, almost antagonistic relationship, as the Sphere's teachings threaten their authority.

## In the story

### [Preface to the Second and Revised Edition, 1884](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/flatland_se/chapters/preface-to-the-second-and-revised-edition-1884)

The Sphere is referenced as the source of the opinion that Straight Lines are superior to Circles, which the Square now inclines to.

### [Part II: Other Worlds](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/flatland_se/chapters/part-ii-other-worlds)

The visitor from Spaceland who reveals the third dimension to the Square and guides him through other worlds.

### [XIV: How I Vainly Tried to Explain the Nature of Flatland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/flatland_se/chapters/xiv-how-i-vainly-tried-to-explain-the-nature-of-flatland)

Not directly present in this chapter; the Square acts as the visitor from a higher dimension, analogous to the Sphere's role in earlier chapters.

### [How the Stranger Vainly Endeavoured to Reveal to Me in Words the Mysteries of Spaceland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/flatland_se/chapters/xvi-how-the-stranger-vainly-endeavoured-to-reveal-to-me-in-words-the-mysteries-of-spaceland)

The Sphere tries to teach the Square about Spaceland using analogy and demonstration, but is met with disbelief and hostility.

### [How the Sphere, Having in Vain Tried Words, Resorted to Deeds](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/flatland_se/chapters/xvii-how-the-sphere-having-in-vain-tried-words-resorted-to-deeds)

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.

### [How I Came to Spaceland, and What I Saw There](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/flatland_se/chapters/xviii-how-i-came-to-spaceland-and-what-i-saw-there)

The Sphere guides the Square through Spaceland, explains the nature of three-dimensional beings, and descends into Flatland to proclaim the existence of a third dimension.

### [XIX: How, Though the Sphere Showed Me Other Mysteries of Spaceland, I Still Desired More; and What Came of It](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/flatland_se/chapters/xix-how-though-the-sphere-showed-me-other-mysteries-of-spaceland-i-still-desired-more-and-what-came-of-it)

The Sphere attempts to teach the Square about solids and perspective, but grows frustrated with the Square's relentless demands for higher dimensions and ultimately casts him back to Flatland.

### [How the Sphere Encouraged Me in a Vision](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/flatland_se/chapters/xx-how-the-sphere-encouraged-me-in-a-vision)

The Sphere appears in the Square's dream, guides him to Pointland, and encourages him to aspire and teach others about higher dimensions.

### [XXI: How I Tried to Teach the Theory of Three Dimensions to My Grandson, and with What Success](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/flatland_se/chapters/xxi-how-i-tried-to-teach-the-theory-of-three-dimensions-to-my-grandson-and-with-what-success)

The Sphere is mentioned as having approved the grandson's earlier remarks on the meaning of 3, and his visit is referenced in the Square's account to his wife.

### [XXII: How I Then Tried to Diffuse the Theory of Three Dimensions by Other Means, and of the Result](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/flatland_se/chapters/xxii-how-i-then-tried-to-diffuse-the-theory-of-three-dimensions-by-other-means-and-of-the-result)

Mentioned in the Square's speech and memories; his manifestation in the Council Chamber is recalled.

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/flatland_se/chapters/endnotes)

Referenced in the dialogue that was expanded to address critics.

### [List of Illustrations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/flatland_se/chapters/list-of-illustrations)

The Sphere's intersection with a point of view is depicted in a series of diagrams.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/flatland_se/characters/the_sphere
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/flatland_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/flatland_se/characters