THE THIRD LEVEL - Jack Finney

It is an interesting story that is set after the world war. This story
talks about the figments of imaginations that can be used to
escape from reality. It takes readers back in the time of joy and
peace. The story weaves together psychological journey of the
narrator into the past and present

MAIN CHARACTERS

Charley: Thirty-one year old protagonist and also the narrator of

the story. He is not happy with his present life. While returning to
his residence he reaches the third level of the Grand Central
station which does not exist.

Sam: He is the second most important character in the story. He

is a psychiatrist and a friend of Charlie.

Louisa: Louisa is Charley's wife.

First level for the trains of 20 Second level for suburban
century trains

Mushrooming with subways, staircases and corridors like a tree

Charley's description of the Third Level (imaginary)

 Smaller rooms, fewer ticket windows, wooden old styled.
information booths.
 Derby hat and gold pocket watches
 Men with beards, sideburns and moustaches.
 Women with skirts, high buttoned shoes and legs of
buttoned sleeves.
 Brass spittoons on the floor, open flamed gas lights
 Old styled locomotives with funnel shaped stack,
 Newspaper 'The World', 11th June 1894
 Charley wishes to buy two tickets to Galesburg
 Clerk stares at him since the currency is different
 Moves from past to present (in reality) runs from there.

Charley shares his experience

 Psychiatrist friend Sam refuses to believe
 Considers waking dream wish fulfillment
 Wife Louisa gets worried, disbelieves too
 Presidents of Newyork swear on the existence of
two levels
Sam disappears
 Charley gets note from Sam of dated 18July, 1894
 Sam suggests to keep on searching for the Third
Level
Reaches Third Level (Galesburg)world of peace.
 Starts new business of hay, grain and cattle
 Enjoys happy and peaceful life

First Day Cover

 Stamp collectors buy stamps on the day of
release.
Mail the envelopes, blank paper in it with the
postmark of the date to themselves
 Covers remain unopened, Charley inherited
stamp collection from his grandfather
About Charley
 31 years old ordinary person
 Takes temporary refuge from reality

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Charley describe Galesburg as it used to be in 1894?
Answer: Charley describes Galesburg as a quiet, simple and
peaceful place with big old frame houses, huge lawns and
tremendous trees. The summer evenings were rather long and
people sat out on their lawns in a peaceful world, men smoking
cigars and women waving palm-leaf fans.
2.What did Charley learn about Sam from the stamp and coin
store?
Answer: From the stamp and coin store Charley came to know
that Sam had bought old style currency worth eight hundred
dollars. This money was sufficient to set him up in a little hay,
feed and grain business in Galesburg.
3. Why did Charley rush back from the third level?
Answer: When Charley took out the modem currency to pay for
the two tickets to Galesburg, the ticket clerk accused him of
trying to cheat him. He threatened to hand Charley over to the
police. Charley was frightened and he decided to rush back from
the third level, lest he was arrested and put into prison.
4.How do Charley's wife Louisa and his friend Sam react to the
narrator observation?
Ans - Charley the narrator states that there are three levels at
Grand Central Station. His assertion is based on his personal
observation. But his friend Sam said that Charley was unhappy
and wanted to escape. His wife Louisa was shocked and worried.
They both disbelieved him.
5. What do you learn about Galesburg, Illinois during 1894?
Ans - Galesburg has been described as a peaceful place that was
not ravaged by the two world wars. It has old framed houses,
huge lawns and splendid trees with expanded branches. The men
would smoke cigar talk quietly. The women would be waving
palm leaves fans. They have ample time for themselves.

Long Answer Questions

1) How did Charley reach the third level of Grand Central? How
was
it different from the other levels?

Answer: One night, Charley worked till late at the office. Then he
was in a hurry to get back to his apartment. So he decided to
take the subway from Grand Central. He went down the steps
and came to the first level. Then he walked down to the second
level from where the suburban trains left. He ducked into an
arched doorway that headed to the subway. Then he got lost.
Knowing that he was going wrong he continued to walk
downward. The tunnel turned a sharp left and then taking a short
flight of stairs he came out on the third level at the Grand Central
Station. Here he saw many unusual things. There were very few
ticket windows and train gates that were old-looking and made of
wood. Dim gaslights flickered and men wore derby hats and four-
button suits. It was a rather strange world of sideburns, beards
and fancy moustaches.

2) Do you think that the third level was a medium of escape for
Charley? Why?

Answer: The fears, anxieties and insecurities of the modern world

are taking a toll on man's mind. He feels helpless and frustrated
and seeks temporary respite from life's harsh realities. Charley
too was unable to cope with his fast paced and stressful life so his
flight to the third level was undoubtedly a medium of escape for
him. It is nothing but a creation of Charley's own mind. He wants
to escape from the modern world's insecurities, fear, worries and
stress and so seeks an exit, a medium to get away into the world
of dreams and fancies.

3) What made Charley believe that he was actually standing at

the third level?
Answer: One night, Charley worked late at the office. He was in a
hurry to get to his apartment. So he decided down the steps to
the second level, turned left and kept on walking. He came out on
the third level at the Grand Central Station. This was a different,
old and romantic world. So he was convinced that he was actually
looking. There were open flame gaslights. He saw people with
beards, sideburns and fancy moustaches. Then standing at the
third level. There were fewer ticket windows there which were
made of wood and were old- he caught a glimpse of an old
locomotive and also saw an 1894 issue of 'The World' newspaper.
Perhaps Charley is under pressure to escape from the harsh world
of realities. He would like to escape to the peaceful world of
1894.
4. The story reveals refuge from reality to illusion. Do you think it
is obvious to escape from reality of life?
Ans.-Jack Finney portrays Charley's transition from reality to
imaginary world through the story the Third Level. It seems
probable as the author employs authenticity to the experience.
Charley worked late night at the office and was in hurry to reach
his apartment to be with his wife Louisa. He thinks of taking the
subway since it seems faster than bus. Grand Central Station has
been described mysterious and mushrooming with subways,
staircases and corridors that leads to many ways and places.
Moving through the tunnel Charley recounts his past experience
that appears safe and quite normal. Modern world is full of
insecurity, fear, war, worry and tension. He wants to escape from
the harsh realities of modern world. His friend Sam also agrees
with the escape theory.
They claim that our hobbies also lead us to a temporary escape
from reality. Finally, his Psychiatrist friend reaches the Third Level
and suggests Charley and his wife Louisa to keep on searching till
they get it. The story weaves psychological phenomenal yarn to
make it obvious.

5.What do you know about the 'First Day Cover'?

Ans- When a new stamp is issued in any country, stamp
collectors buy some and use them to mail envelopes at their own
address
on the very first day of release. They put a blank paper in the,
envelopes. The postmark proves the date of issue. The envelope
is called a first day cover. It remains unopened.

Short Answer Questions for Practice:

1 What strange experience did Charley have on the day when he

went to the Grand Central Station?
2 How the narrator was convinced that he had come to the Third
level?
3 Why did the clerk refuse to accept the money? Why did the
narrator get out so fast?
4 Who was Sam? What had happen to him?
5 What role does Sam's letter play in the story?
6 Where did Charley go after reading Sam's letter?

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