The Third level

by Jack Finney

About the writer:

1. Jack Finney (1911-1995) was an American author born in in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
2. The full name of Jack Finney is Walter Braden Finney.
3. Jack Finney achieved notable success and recognition for his work in the science fiction
and fantasy genre.
4. His works in science fiction and fantasy genre often had elements of mysteries & strong
sense of nostalgia.
 1. Published :"The Third Level" by Jack Finney was first published in 1950 in a collection of his
stories titled "I Love Galesburg in the Springtime.
2. Setting of the story: The setting of "The Third Level" is primarily based in Grand Central station,
New York City. The protagonist of the story, Charley, discovers a hidden third level in the station
that seems to transport him back in time to the year 1894 and the story also briefly mentions
other locations such as Galesburg, Illinois.
3. POV : "The Third Level" is narrated from a first-person point of view by the protagonist, Charley.
4. Introduction of the story: "The Third Level" is a short story about a man named Charley who
lives in New York City in the 1950s. He's not happy with his life, so he becomes obsessed with
the Grand Central Station. He discovers a special set of stairs leads to The third level that he
believes can take him to a different time and place where life is simpler and better.
5. Themes : Escapism, Nostalgia, Time Travel, Dissatisfaction.
6. Literary devices: Symbolism, Imagery, Foreshadowing, simile, Personified.

Significance of the title: The title "The Third Level" holds significant meaning in the
story. It
refers to a mysterious and elusive level within the Grand Central Station, which Charley believes
exists outside of the present time. The third level symbolizes an escape from the constraints of reality,
a place where one can find relief from the complexities and challenges of modern life. It represents a
wish for a simpler and happier existence, a desire to transcend(rise above/go beyond) the limitations
of the present and find comfort in a different time or place. The title sets the tone for the story and
introduces the central theme of escapism and the exploration of alternate realities.
Summary of the story: The story revolves around a 31 year old man named Charley, who
experienced something weird. One day after work coming from the Subway, he reached the third
level of the Grand Central station (which doesn’t actually exist). He reminisces{indulge in enjoyable
recollection of past events} the entire experience with his psychiatrist friend Sam. Charley thought he
experienced time travel and had reached somewhere in the eighteen-nineties, a time before the world
saw two of its most deadliest wars. As soon as he realised what time he is in, he immediately decided
to buy two tickets to Galesburg, Illinois; one for himself and the other for his wife.

Unfortunately, the currency used in that century was different. Thus, the next day he withdrew all his
savings and got them converted even if it meant bearing losses. He went looking for the third level but
failed to find it. It worried his wife and the psychiatrist Sam who told him that he is hallucinating in
order to take refuge from reality and miseries of the modern world which is full of worry. Charley thus
resorts to his stamp collection in order to distract himself when suddenly one day he finds a letter
from his friend Sam who had gone missing recently. Sam wrote that he always wanted to believe in
the idea of third level and now that he is there himself, he encourages Charley and Louisa to never
stop looking for it.

Themes:
Escapism: One of the central themes in the story is the desire to escape from the realities and
pressures of modern life. Charley is dissatisfied with his own time and becomes fixated on the
idea of finding an alternate reality where life is simpler and happier.

Nostalgia: The story delves into the longing for the past and the nostalgia for a time gone by.
Charley is drawn to the 1894 era, which he believes is accessible through the third level. This
 theme highlights the human tendency to romanticize the past and yearn for a bygone era.
Time Travel: "The Third Level" touches upon the concept of time travel. Charley believes that the
third level allows him to travel back in time to the year 1894. While the story maintains ambiguity
about the reality of time travel, the theme explores the allure and fascination with the idea of
transcending time.
Dissatisfaction: Charley's dissatisfaction with his contemporary life drives the narrative. The story
portrays the disillusionment and restlessness that can arise when individuals feel disconnected
or dissatisfied with their present circumstances.

CHARACTERS:

Charley:

The protagonist of the story, Charley is a true representative of modern man. He is a victim of stress,
insecurity and fear and wants to run away from reality. He is an escapist and wants to escape from
the world of harsh realities. He is fond of stamp collection, a hobby, which he takes up to make his
leisure hours more productive and fulfilling experience. But his psychiatrist friend calls it a temporary
refuge from reality. He yearns to lead a good simple life of his grandfather’s time, when things were
pretty nice and peaceful. He quests for the fabulous ordinariness of a bygone age that was free from
modern razzle-dazzle, sophistication and material comforts but exudes peace and tranquillity. He
wants to go to Galesburg, Illinois, in the year 1894 when the First World War was twenty years off and
the Second WorldWar still forty years ahead.

Louisa :
Louisa is Charley’s wife. She is loving and caring towards her husband. However, she is a simple lady
and it is not difficult to take her in. She refuses to accept the psychiatrist’s observation that her
husband is unhappy. She takes this comment as a personal attack and feels ‘kind of mad’. On being
told the modern world is full of insecurity, fear, etc. she feels satisfied with the psychiatrist
explanation. When Charley talks to her about his predicament regarding the third level, she gets
alarmed and advises him not to look for the third level anymore. Her husband’s exchanging the new
currency with the old one is a cause of concern for her and she tells Charley emphatically to stop
looking for it. When Charley tells her about Sam’s disappearance, she joins him in looking for the third
level every weekend.

Sam Charley’s Psychiatrist friend:

Sam is a psychiatrist by profession. He is a typical city boy. When Charley shares his visiting the third
level he tells him it is a waking dream wish fulfillment. He tells him that he is looking for ways to
escape since he is not happy. But he immediately revises his statement that Charley is a victim of
insecurities of modern life. He dubs the argument of narrator’s hobby of stamp collection as a
temporary refuge from reality. He does not believe in mixing up his profession with his friendship. He
gets fascinated by Charley’s description of Galesburg, Illinois, as a wonderful town with big old frame
houses, huge lawns, tremendous trees lining the streets. He is also affected by the pulls and
pressures of modern life that he thinks of escaping to the peaceful world of Galesburg of 1894. In the
end, he discovers the third level of Grand Central and goes there. He writes a letter from there
advising Charley and Louisa to keep finding the third level because it is worth. According to Charley,
Sam must have set up his little hay feed and grain businesses as he can’t go back to his old business
as psychiatrists are redundant in Galesburg of 1894.

points to ponder:

There were fewer ticket windows and train gates, and the information booth in the centre was
wood and old looking.
And the man in the booth wore a green eyeshade and long black sleeve protectors. The lights
were dim and sort of flickering. Then I saw why; they were openflame gaslights.There were
brass spittoons,

a man was pulling a gold watch from his vest pocket. He snapped open the cover, glanced at
his watch and frowned. He wore a derby hat,

a black fourbutton suit with tiny lapels, and he had a big, black, handlebar mustache...
everyone in the station was dressed like eighteen-ninetysomething; I never saw so many
beards, sideburns and fancy mustaches in my life. A woman wore a dress with leg-of mutton
sleeves and skirts to the top of her high-buttoned shoes…

I caught a glimpse of a locomotive, a very small Currier & Ives locomotive with a
funnel- shaped stack.

by Sudhshu sir.