Section 4 presents a disturbing view of societal control in Flatland, particularly how irregular or discontented citizens are dealt with by the ruling Circles. Those who do not meet the strict standards of shape may find themselves confined for life in state institutions under the pretense of rehabilitation. A few of the most rebellious or hopelessly flawed are executed without fanfare, considered a threat to the stability of the realm. To suppress unrest, especially among the Isosceles class, the authorities use deception and division. Soldiers loyal to the Circles are deployed quickly during such crises, or tensions are subtly encouraged among the dissenters themselves, prompting them to turn on one another. Rebellions have occurred hundreds of times in Flatland’s recorded history, but all have ended in suppression or self-destruction. What may seem like a spontaneous uprising is often the result of deeply rooted systemic injustice, hidden beneath the smooth surface of order and conformity.

The topic then shifts to the most feared members of Flatland society: the Women. Despite being the lowest class, their physical form makes them extraordinarily dangerous. With no angles or sides, they are reduced to sharp lines—comparable to needles—and can render themselves nearly invisible when viewed head-on. This makes accidental contact with a Woman potentially fatal, particularly in crowded or poorly lit areas. For this reason, strict laws were created to regulate their movement and presence in public. They must enter buildings through a designated entrance and are required to emit a continuous “peace-cry” to warn others of their approach. Any woman who is ill or has involuntary movements is considered a public danger and is executed. In some regions, additional laws demand that Women sway their backs visibly or be escorted by male relatives, reflecting the fear and mistrust deeply woven into the legal fabric of Flatland.

However, these laws have not always resulted in social harmony. Excessive restrictions have, at times, triggered violent retaliation from women. History records instances where entire villages were wiped out in a matter of hours during coordinated female revolts, sparked by long periods of forced confinement or oppressive regulation. Even the governing Circles have acknowledged that overly harsh laws can destabilize society rather than protect it. As such, the minimal set of laws—public entrance etiquette, the peace-cry, and visible movement—have become the standard in more balanced states. Ironically, the most effective safeguard isn’t law, but the Woman’s own risk of injury. If she cannot disengage after attacking, her fragile body may be shattered. This natural consequence ensures a level of caution in her actions that legislation alone cannot enforce.

Social fashion also plays a role in behavioral control. In well-governed areas, ladies of status instinctively sway their backs to signal their presence, a gesture passed down through imitation rather than law. The elegant, rhythmic sway of upper-class women is admired and copied by lower-ranking females. This chain of imitation—from Circles down to Isosceles—helps promote public safety and visibility, reducing the chance of accidental deaths. In elite households, this practice is universal, giving their men a safer domestic environment. Though this behavior originated in fear, it evolved into a cultural standard, upheld by tradition and social pressure. Thus, while legal codes attempt to govern, it is habit and status that often prove more effective in shaping everyday life. The lines between law, custom, and survival are thin but carefully maintained.

Emotionally, women in Flatland are not considered heartless, but their reactions are described as dangerously impulsive. Lacking angles, and thus intelligence by Flatland’s standards, they are said to be driven entirely by immediate emotion. In moments of anger, they may commit violent acts without memory or remorse. The narrator recalls a case in which a Woman destroyed her family during a fit of rage, only to inquire shortly after where they had gone. This lack of foresight and memory is not viewed with compassion but treated as a flaw to be contained. Apartments are built to prevent women from turning, rendering them harmless and forgetful after brief periods. It’s a cold solution, one that values control over understanding. Still, most families function without chaos, particularly outside the military classes, where tact and careful speech help avoid violent outbursts.

Among the lower military ranks, however, disaster is more common. The men, confident in their sharp angles and used to commanding others, often provoke their wives unintentionally. Lacking the social grace and awareness found in higher ranks, they misjudge how to deescalate a situation. The result is often tragic and avoidable. Domestic peace in Flatland depends not on love or empathy, but on spatial limitations and behavioral conditioning. What emerges is a portrait of a society where fear, geometry, and power maintain order—at the cost of mutual respect.