THE THIRD LEVEL

BY JACK FINNEY

Introduction to the author:

Jack Finney was born in Wisconsin, United States on October 2, 1911 and died on November
14, 1995. His best known works are science fiction and thrillers including ‘The Body
Snatchers’ and ‘Time and Again’. ‘The Third Level’ is a short story written by Finney and
originally published in 1950, which he later incorporated in the collection of short stories of
the same name published in 1957.

Synopsis:
Charley is convinced that there are three and not just two levels at Grand Central Station.
Charley’s psychiatrist and his friends think that his delusion is a ‘waking dream wish
fulfilment’ and like his stamp collection, a temporary refuge from a world full of insecurity,
fear, war and worry.

Charley explains that one evening while hurrying back home, he decides to take the subway
from Grand Central Station and loses his way. He eventually finds himself on a strange third
level with spittoons, gaslights, an ancient locomotive and oddly dressed people.
He realizes that he has somehow gone back in time to 1894, which is confirmed by the
newspaper’s lead story on President Cleveland. Charley tries to buy tickets to Galesburg,
Illinois, but as the clerk refuses to accept his 1950 style currency, he leaves the station.

During his lunch break the next day, Charley withdraws nearly all their savings and buys old-
style currency. But he can never again find the entrance to the third level at Grand Central
Station. Charley finds evidence that the third level supposedly exists when he discovers a
letter dated July 18, 1894 mailed to his grandfather at Galesburg but addressed to him by his
psychiatrist, who it seems, was not as disbelieving of the third level as he appeared.

Theme:
The story clearly explores the science fiction genre of ‘time travel’ .The author interweaves
fantasy with reality in the most futuristic projection of time travel. The story is set after
World War II. Hence Charley’s desire to live before the Great Wars, which caused a lot of
misery and hardships. Charley wishes to be transported to the third level, the world of 1894,
which is supposedly a much happier and quieter place to be. The question whether the third
level exists for real or only in Charley’s mind can be inferred from Sam’s letter.

The story also dwells on the theme of escapism, not only as a psychological refuge from the
grim realities of the present day world but also as a desire to stay with the past or to keep the
past alive in the complexities of the present. In the story Charley expresses his desire to
escape from the problems and monotony of the post-World War modern city life. There is
irony and humour in Charley’s psychiatrist apparently using the escape route of the third
level (with no plans to resort to his old profession) when he himself had denied its existence
initially. Indeed,to escape seems to be an all-pervasive feeling. In the words of the narrator, “-
----- for so many people through the years Grand Central has been an exit, a way of escape”
both literally and metaphorically from the hectic city life.

Narrative style:
The writer’s style is simple and conversational. He seems to be talking directly to his readers
and drawing them into the story. The impact of the story is heightened by the surprise ending.

Questions/answers:
1 Why did the narrator meet a psychiatrist?
Ans: The narrator met a psychiatrist because he was sure he had been on the third level of the
Grand Central Station though he was aware of the fact that only two levels of the station
existed as confirmed by the Presidents of the railroads.The need to meet a psychiatrist
became urgent as he was in a dilemma.

2 What according to the psychiatrist was Charley’s problem?

Ans: Charley told the psychiatrist about his belief in the existence of the third level at the
Grand Central Station but was told that it was a waking –dream wish fulfilment. The third
level was a figment of his imagination, his desire and fantasy. The psychiatrist also added
that Charley was unhappy because of the insecurity, fear, worry and anxiety of the post-war
hectic city-life and that he wanted to escape it just like everybody else. The third level offered
him that escape just like his hobby of stamp collection which was interpreted as a ‘temporary
refuge from reality.’

3 What was the most shocking discovery / revelation made by Charley?

Ans: The most shocking and disturbing discovery Charley made was the note that had been
supposedly sent by his friend Sam who had recently disappeared. Charley found out that he
had exchanged a large sum of present day currency and bought eight hundred dollars’ worth
of old-style currency which he wanted to invest in business in 1894 at Galesburg. He also
admitted that Sam was his psychiatrist who could not go back to his ‘old business
(psychiatry) in 1894. It was shocking because Sam had initially dismissed Charley’s claims
of the existence of the third level as a ‘waking dream wish fulfilment’ whereas his letter in
the end apparently becomes the clinching evidence of the third level.

4 What was Charley’s argument when the psychiatrist told him that stamp
collectionmm was a temporary refuge from reality?
Ans: Charley argued that his own grandfather lived at a time when things were pretty nice
and peaceful and he was the one who had actually initiated his collection of stamps. He
refused to believe that his stamp collection was a temporary refuge from reality. He
considered the third level to be real. He further gave the example of President Roosevelt who
also shared his hobby and was far removed from any desire to escape.
5 In which context did Charley say, “eggs were thirteen cents a dozen in 1894?”
Ans: Charley had withdrawn three hundred dollars from his bank and had them converted to
old style currency so that he could go back to the third level and buy tickets to Galesburg. For
his three hundred dollars he had got only two hundred dollars’ worth old-style currency but
he did not mind that. His only consolation was that in the year 1894, the two hundred dollars
would have much more value as things were much cheaper than what they were now.

6 What did Charley suspect when his friend Sam Weiner disappeared?

Ans: Despite Charley’s efforts to go to the third level, he was unable to find it again. He
shared his experience with his wife, who got worried. He went back to his stamps. His friend
Sam had disappeared and nobody knew where he was but Charley was certain that he had
found the third level and gone there. Charley’s description of the place had fascinated him as
a result of which he must have gone to Galesburg as it existed in 1894.

Long Questions:

1 What do you infer from Sam’s letter to Charley?

Ans: Charley, the main character of Jack Finney’s “The Third Level” gave up hope of ever
finding the third level again. He resumed his stamp collection to pass his time. It was then
that he noticed a first day cover which he had not seen before and which should not have
been there. It bore the stamp of July 18, 1894 and had been posted from Galesburg, Illinois.
As Charles read the contents of the letter, he was shocked and surprised to read that it was
apparently Sam ,his friend, who had posted it to him. Earlier Sam had only hoped that
Charley was right about the third level but now he actually believed in it. He had supposedly
found it and had been there for two weeks. He admired the place as it was peaceful and the
people were warm and friendly. He urged Charley and Louisa to continue their search for the
place and not to give up. The letter brought out the difference between the two worlds- the
peaceful one of the pre-world war era and the modern world full of stress, worry and
insecurities. People led a relaxed life of fun, enjoyment and little pleasures meant a lot to
them in 1894. The letter also corroborates Charley’s belief in the third level.

2 ‘The Third Level’ written by Jack Finney is a story that illustrates an intersection of
time and space. Elaborate.

Ans: In ‘The Third Level’, Jack Finney treats his favourite subject ‘Time’ in a new
dimension. The Third Level is a point where the past and the present supposedly meet.
Charley, the protagonist, loses his way and finds himself in what he thinks is the third level of
the Grand Central Station in New York. He realizes that something is different and discovers
that he has somehow reached the year 1894. It is the period Charley would want to be in. The
responses and happiness of the three characters in the story revolve around the third level.
Charley is excited and wants two tickets for Galesburg, a peaceful town in the pre-war
period. Sam, Charley’s psychiatrist friend, attributes it to his desire to escape from the stress
of life. Later on, Sam withdrew all his life’s savings from the bank and exchanged it for1894
currency. He was apparently able to cross time and reach a quieter, more peaceful past where
his services as a psychiatrist were not required. Louisa did not believe that one could cross
over the time dimension till Charley received a letter from Sam. Jack Finney leaves the
readers wondering what ‘The Third Level’ really is. Even though Charley is able to find
proof and make the transition back and forth in time, Sam, his friend, is already there and
enjoying himself. The reader gets transported into the shadowy, eerie world of dreams,
desires and reality.

Questions for practice:

1 What does Charley think of Grand Central Station?

2 Describe briefly the scene at the station as seen by Charley.

3 How does Charley confirm that he has reached the third level?

4 Describe Galesburg as it existed in the year 1894.

5 Do you think that the third level was a medium of escape for Charley? Why/why not?