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The Third Level

- by jack Finney
Introduction
The Third Level deals with a commuter who imagines himself to be at the third level of the Grand Central Railway
Station. In reality there are only two levels of this station in New York. The third level of the station is a creation
of the commuter's imagination. The story is replete with (full of) fantasy. The narrator makes the Third Level and
the journey back in time, a medium of escape. The story is left open- ended as the author makes the narrator'
psychiatrist friend, who diagnosed that it was ' a waking dream wish fulfillment, ' also travel back in time.
Summary:
The narrator Charley reveals that he has been at the Third Level at the Grand Central Railway Station, New York.
He admits that although the station has only two levels, yet he feels that there is also a third one. When he tells
his psychiatrist friend Sam Weiner about this, the latter diagnoses it as 'a waking dream wish fulfillment'. He
explains that it is the outcome of every modern man's wish to escape from the insecurities, fears and frustrations
of modern life. Sam also terms Charley's hobby of stamp collection as an escape mechanism. But Charley does
not believe this because his grandfather too pursued philately. The old man had no worries and lived a peaceful
life from which he did not need to escape. Describing the day when he strayed (got lost) to the Third Level at the
station, Charley tells tha one summer night he worked late in office. He was keen to get back home to his wife
Louisa so he hurried to board the train at the second level. He rushed down to the second level and lost way
when he crossed the arched doorway that led to the subway. He felt that the Grand Central was like a tree that
keeps growing new corridors and stairs similar to branches and offshoots.
Continuing his search for the train that would take him home, Charley walked down the corridor hearing the
empty sound of his own footsteps. Suddenly he found himself on the Third Level. This place had smaller rooms,
fewer ticket windows and open- flame gaslights. The old world charm of the 19th century was visible in the
manner of dressing adopted by the people on the Third Level. To confirm his observation Charley spotted a
newspaper 'The World' that carried a lead story about President Cleveland, the premiere of US in the late 19th
century. Charley also noted that the newspaper was dated June 11, 1894. He, then proceeded to the ticket
window and asked for two tickets to Galesburg, Illinois - a place where he grew up a school boy. He wished to
return to the peaceful life in that place along with his wife. The thought that returning to 1894 would keep him
away 20 years from First World War and 40 years from Second World War thrills Charley. But the currency that
he offers to pay for the tickets is not accepted and is threatened by the clerk at the window for trying to cheat.
Charlie runs from there. He then makes plan to retreat (go back) to 20th century. He prepares to arrange the
currency that was used in the late 19th century. He withdraws 300 dollars from his bank next day and buys 200
dollars in old style bills. This worries his psychiatrist friend Sam but Charley does not share with him the idea that
the 'exits' of the Grand Central actually leads to escape routes and he had been there. Charlie tries to return to
the third level in order to board a train that would take him to Galesburg. However, all his efforts prove futile
(useless) and he never finds the Third Level. He shares everything with his wife who gets pretty worried and
dissuades (discourages) Charley to look any further. After that, he stops his search for the Third Level and
resumes routine life along with collections of stamps.
Towards the end, the story takes a turn and charley tells that he and his wife has started the search of Third Level
once again on weekends because they have found the proof of its existence. Charley’s friend Sam’s
disappearance had made them believe that the third level exists. Charley recalls that he had shared with Sam his
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experience as a young school boy in Galesburg and impressed by those descriptions Sam had found that place
and escaped to it.
Charley
The protagonist of the story, Charley is a super - sensitive and highly imaginative character who indulges in flights
of fancy. He is a true representative of the modern man who is a victim of insecurity as well as indecision and
wants to run away from reality.
However, he is a loving husband who likes to rush back home immediately after office to be with his wife, Louisa.
He is fond of stamp collection, which his psychiatrist friend Sam calls 'a temporary refuge from reality'.
Charley is fascinated by the good old simple days of his grandfather when things were pretty nice and peaceful.
He is intrigued (puzzled) by the mystery whether the third level exists at the Grand Central Railway station or not.
Having 'been' there once he fails to locate it a second time. Even when he and his wife think that they have proof
of its existence, they fail to find it despite their best efforts.
In sum, Charley is a true picture of the modern man who is caught in the unwanted pulls and pressures of life and
wants to escape the turbulences associated with it.

Sam Weiner, the psychiatrist friend

As a psychiatrist Sam is perfect in his profession. His diagnosis is precise and terse (short). He does not believe in
mixing up his profession with his friendship. When Charley consults him, he clearly tells him that he is looking for
ways to escape since he is not happy. However, fearing that there might be reaction from Charley's wife, he is
wise enough to quickly revise his statement by saying that, like any modern young man Charley is a victim of
insecurity. He dubs (calls) the narrator's hobby of stamp collection to be a "temporary refuge from reality". Thus,
Sam is a thorough-bred professional and does not mince words (speaks directly) where his patients are
concerned. Later, in the story, he too, is affected by the pulls and pressures of the modern life and in his sub-
conscious mind seeks (searches) an escape route, although he understands the truth very well as he is a
psychiatrist. Thus, in the end of the story, he too 'discovers' the third level of the Grand Central Station and
'escapes' to Galesburg of 1894.
Louisa
Louisa is Charley's wife. Like most women, she refuses to accept any criticism, even if it happens to be positive
and rational one. The psychiatrist's observation that her husband was 'unhappy' angers her and she challenges it.
She takes this comment as a personal attack on wifely care and she feels 'kind of mad'. However, she is a simple
lady and it is not difficult to take her in. On being told that the 'modern world is full of insecurity, fear' etc. she
feels satisfied with the psychiatrist's explanation, little realising that he is saying the same thing in different
words. She is a loving and caring wife. When charley talks to her about his predicament (difficult situation)
regarding the third level, she gets pretty worried and advises him not to look for the third level anymore.
However, she is a credulous (one who easily believes) lady, not able to reason out things on her own. When
Charley tells about Sam's disappearance, she joins in him in looking for the third level 'every weekend'.
Title
Oppressed by the pulls and pressures of modern life man yearns (wishes) for an escape from all the tensions and
worries. He looks for a level of existence that would yield peace and tranquility (peace). Trying to delve deeper
into life, he wonders whether it is possible for him to live on a different plane and he looks for this ideal world,
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hoping to come across it someday. It is this Utopian (imaginary world) that the author has chosen to call 'the
third level'.
'Third level' can also refer to a level of reality that exists in our mind only and not in actual space and time. It is
this faculty of mind that makes virtual travel in time possible and opens innumerable ways to escape the harsh
realities. Hence, "The Third Level' is an appropriate title.

Q:1 Do you see an intersection of time and space in the story The Third Level?
Ans: There is an obvious intersection of time and space in the story. The narrative moves freely transcending
(crossing) all barriers of time and space. Thus, Charley traces into 1894 at the third level and then gets back to the
20th century. Sam transports himself to Galesburg Illinois in 1894 and yet communicates with Charlie in the 20th
century.
Q: 2 How did the psychiatrist explain Charlie's flight to the non-existent Third Level ?
Ans: The psychiatrist explained that Charley could not obviously have reached the third level as it did not exist. He
was of the view that fear, insecurity war, worries and the like made his tension - ridden mind workout and escape
route for himself. The third level was a creation of his own imagination and 'a waking dream wish fulfillment'
Q: 3 "Yes, I have taken the obvious step". Why does Charlie term meeting the psychiatrist as an obvious step ?
Ans : The moment Charley talked about his coming across the non-existent third level, everybody got alarmed
and felt that he needed to see a psychiatrist. Under the circumstances it was clear that he should seek an expert's
opinion to rule out any psychiatric problem. Hence, he terms it as 'an obvious step'.
Q: 4 Why did the psychiatrist's analysis make Louisa lose her temper and how did the psychiatrist appease
her ?
Ans: Louisa and Charley were leading a happy married life so she could not tolerate the psychiatrist's observation
about Charley being an unhappy man. However, her anger subsided when he moved on to say that he was
referring to modern man's unhappiness in general.
Q:5 Stamp - collecting too was described as a medium of escape by the psychiatrist and Charley's friend. Why
did Charley's grandfather who lived in the golden old days when life was tension – free, pursue this hobby ?
Ans: life in the times of Charley’s grandfather was tension – free so he did not need to pursue philately as ‘a
temporary refuge from reality’. He rather took up this hobby to make his leisure (free) hours more productive
and fulfilling experience.
Q: 6 What was Charley’s state of mind as he came back from the office? Why did he decide to take the subway
from the Grand Central Station?
Ans: Having worked late at the office Charley was fatigued (tired) and bored. He wished to return to his loving
wife, Louisa and to the comfort of his home, as fast as possible. The bus would have taken longer to cover the
distance, so he decided to take the subway.
Q:7 How did Charley reach the Third Level?
Ans: In his hurry to take a train back home, Charley came to Grand Central from Vanderbilt Avenue and took two
flights of stairs to reach the second level from where his train was to leave. He got lost while ducking into an
outdoor arched doorway which led to the subway and he found himself into a tunnel. The tunnel took him to
another flight of stairs at the end of which he found himself on the third level at Grand Central Station.
Q:8 What does ‘the third level’ symbolize?
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Ans: ‘Third Level’ symbolizes man’s yearning (wish) to delve (go) deeper into the world of imagination as an
escape from the world of harsh realities. It stands for narrator’s search for ‘the simplicity and ordinariness of a
bygone age’ that was free from the modern razzle – dazzle (confusion), problems, stresses and insecurities.
Q: 9 What does Grand Central Station symbolize?
Ans: The Grand Central Station symbolize a labyrinth ( a complicated network of passages and paths). Here, one
finds a network of passages so complicated that rather than reaching the destination, one keeps on moving up
and down looking for entries and exits.
Q:10 "Now I don't know why this should have happened to me" Charley wondered why out of the whole
tension - ridden world, he alone took a flight to the 'Third level'. Why do you think, it happened to him ?
Ans: The level of sensitivity and power of imagination vary (different) from person to person. Caught in the web
of monotony (boredom), dull routine and fast life Charley finds it difficult to cope. So, on the wings of
imagination, he takes a flight to the non-existent world that is his place of refuge.
Q: 11 What does Charlie compare Grand Central Station to ? Why?
Ans : Charley compares Grand Central Station to a tree. Just like a tree grows putting forth new leaves and
branches and spreading its roots, Grand Central Station seemed to him to be pushing out new corridors,
staircases. The comparison of the numerous doorways, stairs and corridors of the station to the roots of the tree
is odd yet quite graphic and convincing.
Q:12 Why did Charley not tell his psychiatrist friend about what he thought of Grand Central station ?
or
'But I never told my psychiatrist friend about this idea.' What did Charley not tell psychiatrist ? Why?
Ans: Charley did not tell his psychiatrist friend about his experience that a long unknown tunnel runs under the
city and that Grand Central offers a way of escape through its tunnels. Charley did not share this idea with a
psychiatrist because he did not want Sam to think of him as crazy and make fun of him as an escapist.
Q: 13 Give a brief description of the Third Level ?
Ans : The general layout of the third level was more or less similar to that of the second level but it had
comparatively smaller rooms, fewer ticket windows and train gates. The information booth in the centre was
wooden and it had an old look. One could spot a small 'Currier and Ives' locomotive with a funnel - shaped stack
on this level. The place with brass spittoons did not look very bright in the open flame gaslights. Everyone in the
station was dressed like 'eighteen- ninety- something.
Q: 14 What sort of dresses and appearances did Charley come across on the third level?
Ans: Charley came across men and women wearing 19th century dresses. Men had put on fancy moustaches,
beards and sideburns. Tiny lapels, four- button suits, derby hats and pocket gold watches seem to be in fashion.
Women wore fancy cut sleeves and long skirts with high- buttoned shoes. Thus, at the third level, Charley was
puzzled to see people in old- fashioned clothes and hairstyles.
Q:15 How did Charlie confirm the specific date of the era that he had passed into ?
Ans: On reaching the third level Charley was quite puzzled to see a strange looking platform and outdated
locomotive and the people dressed in old - fashioned styles. To do a reality check, he looked at the newspaper,
'The World' carrying a leader story on President Cleveland who belonged to the late 19th century. Later he
confirmed from the Public Library files that the newspaper was dated 11th June 1894.
Q: 16 Why did Charley run back from the third level ?
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Ans: When Charley produced the modern currency to pay for the two tickets to Galesburg, the ticket clerk
accused him of trying to cheat and threatened to hand him over to the police. This made Charley sense trouble
and he turned away to get out of the third level fast, lest (otherwise) he be arrested and jailed.
Q: 17 "My three hundred dollars bought less than two hundred in old style bills but I did not care". Bring out
the significance of these lines.
Ans: Although Charley got less than two hundred old style bills for three hundred dollars, he did not mind it
because the old style money could buy him railway tickets to Galesburg of 1894 where he could lead a life of
peace and tranquility, free from any modern day worries and tensions. He also consoled himself for having got
less money by the fact that life in 1894 Galesburg was quite cheaper as compared to modern life. Therefore, less
money actually meant more.
Q:18 Why could Charley not reach the third level again ?
Ans: Charley could not reach the third level of Grand Central Station again because despite his best efforts he
failed to locate the tunnel that had taken him to this level earlier. A more rational (logical) explanation is that he
could never experience the same level of consciousness which had transported (carried) him earlier to the third
level of Grand Central.
Q: 20 Why did Louisa stop Charley from looking for the third level ?
Ans: Louisa was a loving and caring wife. She got alarmed at Charley's claim of having been to the third level. His
exchanging the new currency with the old one added to her concern. Like the psychiatrist, Louisa also thought the
third level to be a product of Charley's imagination, so she asked him to stop looking for it.
Q: 21 What do you understand by a first- day cover ?
Ans: The value of a newly issued stamp increases if it has the post mark of the date of issue on it. Therefore, the
stamp collectors buy new stamps on the very first day of its sale and paste them on self - addressed envelopes
and post them. These envelopes are called the first - day covers. With just a blank paper enclosed inside, they are
never opened.
Q: 22 Why was Sam attracted towards Galesburg ?
Ans: Sam, who was a typical city boy, was fascinated by Charley's description of Galesburg, Illinois, as a wonderful
town with big old frame houses, huge lawns and tremendous trees lining the streets. He was so bogged down
(trapped) by the tension and burden of modern life that he thought of escaping to the 'peaceful world' of
Galesburg of 1894 with long summer evenings and an easy going, peaceful life.
Q: 23 How did Charley come to know that Sam had found the third level ?
Ans: Charley came across the first - day cover that he had never seen in his collection earlier. It had his
grandfather's Galesburg address and it contained a note written by Sam mentioning that he had found the third
level and was in Galesburg since two weeks. This was a solid proof that Sam had found the third level.
Q: 24 How did Sam like life in Galesburg?
Ans: Sam's letter to Charley from Galesburg showed that he was quite happy there. He was enjoying the quiet,
simple and peaceful life there, away from the hurry and worry of New York. He liked the way people enjoyed
music, dance and socializing
It was a perfect place for his hay, feed, and grain business. He even invited Charley and Louisa to come over to
Galesburg through the 'third level'.
Q: 25 Why did Sam buy eight hundred dollars of old-style currency ? What did he think of this bargain ?
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Ans: Sam must have spent all the earnings of his lifetime to buy eight hundred dollars of old - style currency.
What apparently seemed to be a foolish bargain was considered to be very profitable one by him as he had sold
his materialistic earnings to buy fulfillment of his soul. Moreover, eight hundred dollars was enough to start a
nice hay, feed and grain business in Galesburg.
Q: 25 Why does Charley say, 'he ( Sam) certainly can't go back to his old business ?
Ans: Charley knew that though Sam’s business of hay, feed and grain was less profitable, but it would give Sam a
greater sense of satisfaction. Moreover, being a psychiatrist he had no scope of reverting to his own profession as
in 1894 a psychiatrist would be absolutely unacceptable. Unlike modern age life in 1894 the people were stress-
free and used to lead peaceful life. So, the science of psychiatry was not needed.
long questions
Q:1 Do you think the third level was a medium of escape for Charley ? why ?
Ans : War, worry, insecurity and fear keep on gnawing at the modern man's mind all the time. This helplessness
and frustration leaves man baffled (puzzled) and he is at a loss (confused) to learn way of facing life. It is then,
that he looks for 'a temporary refuge from reality'. Pursuit of hobbies like stamp - collecting diverts his attention
temporarily and gives him some comfort.
The fast pace of life, overwork and fears had made Charley too uneasy and restless. He yearned for peace,
tranquility (peace) and serenity (quietness). Like many others, he too turned to philately but probably, the
degree of relief that this hobby provided, was not sufficient to calm him down emotionally. Hence, the redoubled
efforts of his subconscious mind for escape resulted in his flight to the third level - a level of existence which he
associated with tranquility. His psychiatrist friend Sam Wiener, also diagnosed Charley's claim to have visited the
third level, as 'a waking - dream wish fulfillment'.
Hence, the third level was undoubtedly, a medium of escape for Charley.
Q:2 What do you infer from Sam's letter to Chaley? or
Sam's letter to Chaley is a fine blend of reality and fantasy. Comment.
Ans: Sam's letter dated 18th July 1894 written from Galesburg, Illinois is a proof of his having been transported to
Galesburg via the third level. The content of the letter indicates that on diagnosing Charley's claim to have visited
the third level, Sam had explained it to be an escape mode. But being equally insecure in the heart of hearts, he
had wished the entire episode was true. In fact, inwardly, he too yearned for such an escape. By and by he
believed in the existence of the third level and carried out an intensive search for it and eventually (finally) found
it. Galesburg fascinated him and gave him the taste of tension free life with ample (sufficient) leisure (free time)
and boundless (unlimited) innocent pleasure. He enjoyed the easy going, peaceful and simple life where people
loved music, dance and socializing. He suggested to Charley and Louisa to keep on looking for it till they came
across it. The letter surprises the reader because it is found in a first - day cover addressed to Charley's
grandfather. He wonders whether Sam had written it to Charley or Charley's grandfather.
Thus, the letter appears to be a strange but interesting mixture of the reality and the fantasy.
Q: 3 The modern world is full of insecurity, fear, war, worry and stress." What are the the ways in which we
attempt to overcome them?
Ans: Insecurity of war, worry, fear and stress rob man of his peace of mind. Thus, our conscious mind constantly
forces out the invasion of tension and anxiety. Stripped of all thrill and excitement, modern man rather than
living life in the real sense of the world merely goes through the process of existing. In order to get out of this
stress and fear, he turns to religion, world of fiction, fantasy, hobbies, sports, music and creativity. These things
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divert man's attention from harsh realities. Thus, man experiences some sort of a relief from his worries. The
degree of involvement in these activities ascertains the level of calmness a man attains. The tranquility that he
experiences for himself saves him from the psychiatric problems caused by stress, strain and apprehension.
Q: 4 Apparent illogicality sometimes turns out to be a futuristic projection. Discuss.
Ans: The visualisation of something that the world is unfamiliar with usually seems to be illogical. In fact a good
number of scientific inventions sounded ridiculous when some fertile mind imagined them for the first time.
Aeroplane, railway engine, telephone, radio, television, mobile phone - all of them must have sounded illogical
impossibilities till some brilliant mind minds give them a concrete shape. Jules Verne's contraptions - a century
before they actually came into shape must have sounded interesting but possibly only in imagination. Similarly
the make-believe world of science fiction and talks about aliens and extra-terrestrial life may sound a bit unlikely
(impossible) and unbelievable today but who knows tomorrow man may be travelling to planets inhabited by
aliens and aliens too might come to visit Earth. However, the apparent illogicalities of the past like the
submarines did prove to be futuristic projections. The idea of going back in time as shown in "The Third Level" is
illogical yet some day in future, it may become possible and one may get transported back in time whenever one
may be bored with the present world.
Q: 3 Philately helps keep the past life alive. Discuss other ways in which this is done. What do you think of the
human tendency to constantly move between the past, the present and the future ?
Ans : Past, present and future are like links in the chain of existence. Unlike the other species, human beings learn
from their past while trying to make the present and future better. The knowledge and experience of the past
helps one widen one's horizons and add new dimensions to one's present and future. Philately helps one keep
one's past alive. There are many other such mediums like the monuments, relics coins, literature, religion and
history and so on that make the past alive. It is human tendency to oscillate (move) between the three phases of
time - past present and future. Present usually leaves man dissatisfied and he takes it casually but when present
fades into past, he looks back with a sigh and records those days 'good old days'. Similarly future too is looked
upon as a promise that might bring fulfillment. Thus present remains merely as a waiting period.
Additional Questions :
Q:4 Describe the relationship that the Charleys enjoyed with each other ?
Ans: Charley and Louisa make a perfect couple - full of love and understanding. Immediately after office hours
Charley wishes to rush back to his wife. He cannot think of travelling to Galesburg alone. So he asks for two
tickets - one for himself and the other for Louisa. Louisa's love for Charley is reflected when she gets alarmed on
learning about Charley's curious experience. She immediately gets Charley to see the psychiatrist. The
psychiatrist's observation about Charley being unhappy infuriates (makes angry) her. Later on, when Charley
spends almost all his savings on buying the 19th century currency, she is not angry but was worried about his well
- being. She tells Charley to stop looking for the third level. But the day, they got a solid proof of the existence of
the third level from Sam's letter, Louisa joins Charley in looking for it. Thus, there is a perfect understanding
between the two and they are an ideal couple.
Q:5 Bring out the contrast between the world charley lived in and the one that he is strayed (lost) into.
Ans: Charlie lived in a world full of insecurity, fear and worry - a world where the fast pace of life always left man
running a race against time. As a result, everybody had in their mind a desire for escape. The world that he
strayed into, on the other hand, lacked in sophistication of the modern world but it was free from the
complexities of life. Simplicity, tranquility, peace and serenity pervaded this world. People lived in big old frame
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houses with sprawling lawns. The streets were lined on both sides with massive trees with their branches forming
a canopy. People had ample leisure time and liked to socialize with each other. There was no mad rush and the
world was not torn with war. In fact, even the First World War was two decades away. The two worlds of Charley,
thus, stood in complete contrast to each other.
Q:6 Charley was a modern man who was haunted by insecurity, war and worry and who could not get over fear
even at the third level. Comment.
Ans: Though the world at the third level was tension free. Charley did not find for himself complete unalloyed
relief even there. When he tried to pay for two tickets to Galesburg with the modern currency, the man at the
ticket window eyed him with suspicion. He thought that Charley was trying to cheat him and warned him that he
won't be able to get very far with his cheating. This unnerved Charley and rather than arguing with official he
took to his heels and moved out of the third level as fast as he could. He wanted no trouble with the police. He
had fear of jail and knew that jail would be a horrible experience in 1894 as it was in the 20th century. Thus fear
followed and haunted Charley even at the third level.
Q: 7 Did Sam really go to Galesburg or was it Charley's figment of imagination ?
Ans: The third level at the Grand Central symbolises man's yearning to attain an ideal level of existence which is
free from wars, worries, insecurities, tension, and a level which exudes (displays) calm, peace, tranquility and
serenity. Charley's imagination had given him a brief taste of this world. But after getting a glimpse of it, Charley
could never get back to this world. In spite of his frantic efforts he could not find the third level but the wish for
such an imaginary world remained in him. Sam's letter from Galesburg and his claim of having found the third
level are also perhaps a way of escape for Charley. He had become obsessed with the purpose of returning the
old world. The story is science fiction and is open - ended to allow the reader to believe either what Charley
thinks about Sam or what Sam thinks about Charley's escapist attitude.