The Third Level -by Jack Finney ‘Summary > wy ‘The Third Level at Grand Central Station Grand Central Station of New York has two levels. But Charley, a thirty-one year old dweller of the city, talks about there being three. Not only does he believe in the existence of this hypothetical third level but also claims to have been there. A visit to his psychiatrist friend Charley visits a psychiatrist friend to talk about this problem. The psychiatrist calls it a “waking-dream wish fulfillment” and rationalises Charley's psychology by saying that the “modern world is full of insecurity, fear, worry, and war...” and everybody wants to escape to some "temporary refuge from reality.” According to him, even hobbies like stamp collection is a manifestation of this escape. Charley loses his way at Grand Central The fast growing Grand Central station at times seems to be a maze to Charley. He had lost his way a couple of times earlier too while taking the subway. Once, he entered the lobby of the Roosevelt Hotel while the other time he emerged at an office building that was three blocks away. But this time when he loses his way, something, unique happens. He visits the third level! The Third Level Charley keeps walking in the quiet corridor, angling left and slanting downward, till he reaches an architecturally old station that is completely different from the two familiar levels. The antiquated small room with fewer ticket counters and train gates, a wooden information booth, flickering open flame gas lights and brass spittoons reminds him of the architecture of the 1800s. He also finds that people are dressed in outmoded outfits. He notices that the date on the newspaper The World is printed June 11, 1894. As he tenders money to the clerk at the counter to buy two tickets, he realises that he need to have old currency bills to do so. Charley's plan for a journey not realised He had always wanted to travel to Galesburg with his wife, Louisa. In his mind, it is “a wonderful town still, with big old frame houses, huge lawns, and tremendous trees...” It is a place with long and pleasant summer evenings and where people have ample of time. So, the next day during lunch, he exchanges three hundred dollars for old style bills amounting to some two hundred only. The loss doesn’t bother him much as he believes that in Galesburg everything will be cheaper and that he can manage even with a small amount. But, he could never again find the corridor leading to the third level. Sam goes missing! His wife Louisa is worried after knowing all this and asks him not to look for the third level any further. Suddenly Charley realises that his friend, Sam Weiner, is nowhere to be found, so he and his wife keep looking for him in the weekends. Sam was the one with whom Charley used to share his ideas about Galesburg,> Philately & the first day covers Philately is not just stamp collection but a broad term including the study of stamps, postal history and other related items. When a new stamp is issued, on the first day, people mail a blank paper to themselves and then retain that unopened letter with the date on the postmark. Charley has inherited the hobby and the collection from his grandfather. > Aletter from Sam One day while fidgeting with his stamp collection, Charley comes across a letter that ‘was not there earlier. It bears the postmark on a faded six-cent stamp with a picture of the President Garfield. The envelope was sent on July18, 1894 to Charley's grandfather in Galesburg and is addressed to Charley. The letter reads that Sam has reached Galesburg and is having whale of a time there. He also invites Charley and Louisa to Galesburg. When Charley goes to the stamp and coin store, he is apprised of Sam's exchanging eight hundred dollars for the old currency bills to establish his business of hay feed and grain in Galesburg. The letter was written by Sam Weiner, who was Charley's psychiatrist! SAMPLE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS Short_Answer Type Questions Ql. How does Jack Finney describe the Grand Central like the roots of a tree? Ans, Jack Finney describes the Grand Central is growing like a tree. He finds new corridors and staircases coming out in front of him. He compares them to the roots of a tree, which are often invisible. Q2. Describe four unusual things which Charlie finds at the third level? Ans. Everything was quite different at the third level for Charlie, The room was smaller. There were fewer ticket windows. The lights were dim and flickering because they were open-flame gas-lights. There were brass spittoons on the floors. Q3. Describe the men at the third level as seen by Charlie in his reverie. Ans. The people Charlie saw in his reverie were dressed in the old style of the year 1890-something, They wore derby hats and four buttoned suit with small lapels. Men had beard, side-whiskers and moustaches. Q4. Why was Charlie not able to purchase tickets from the third level? How did he manage to purchase them? ‘Ans. Charley was unable to purchase tickets from the window because he had modem currency. It was invalid as old style bills were accepted at the booking window. The next day Charley managed to get old style bills to purchase two tickets. Q5. What is the first day cover? Elaborate. ‘Ans. When a new stamp is issued, the stamp collectors buy some. They use them on envelopes, write their own addresses and post them into the mailbox. They also put a blank paper inside the envelopes. It is done on the first day of the sale of the new stamps. They keep the date-stamped envelope in record. Q.6. How did the psychiatrist friend react to his description of the third level at the Grand Central Station? Ans. His friend, Sam did not believe it and said that it was the product of his imagination only. He called it a waking dream wish fulfillment.Q.7. How does the writer defend himself at the allegation of escaping in fantasy by way of stamp collecting? Ans. The writer defends himself from the allegation of escaping from the real world. He admits that it is a temporary refuse from reality. He adds that his grandfather was also in the habit of collecting stamps. Life was peaceful and without much problems. There was no need of escaping from real life in those days. Q8. What evidence does the writer get that Sam is living in Galesberg in 1984? Ans. The envelope mailed to Charlie's grandfather was showing July 18, 1894, A note ‘was also written by Sam, admitting his arrival at Galesberg through the third level. He also invited Charlie and his wife Louisa to reach there. Q9.Do you think the third level was a medium of escape for Charlie? ‘Ans. The third level was really a medium of escape for Charlie, who was also a victim of stressful life of the modern age. People get themselves lost in the world of their imagination by various means of escape. Stamp collecting is one of them. The person. Long Answer-type Questions. QL. How often did Charlie get lost at the Grand Central Station? Ans. One day Charley worked for more time at office. So he was late for home. So he took the subway from the Grand Central to reach the second level of it. From there he was to catch a train. He started walking quickly. He reached the second level. But, all of a sudden, he lost his way there. He entered a corridor that had a left turn. It was also slanting somewhat downwards. It was like a tunnel. He met no one on the way. There was dead silence. Even he could hear the sound of his own footsteps. Then the corridor took a sharp left turn. After coming down a flight of stairs he reached the third level of the Grand Central Station. Q2. What unusual things did he notice there at the third level? How was it different from the other two levels? Ans. Everything was quite different at the third level for Charlie. The room was smaller. There were fewer ticket windows. The lights were dim and flickering because they were open-flame gas-lights. There were brass spittoons on the floors. Everything there at the third level was old and belonged to the eighteen-ninety- something. Nothing was there which could be called belonging to the modern times. ‘The furniture at the third level was of ancient time. A man was using an old type of watch which he kept in his vest pocket. The dresses of the men and women were also of very old style. He also saw an old type of engine. It was a locomotive with a funnel shaped chimney. Old-style bills were accepted there. He could not purchase tickets as he had modern type of bill. Q3.Imagination is a ‘temporary refuge from reality’ Explain in context of the chapter- The Third Level’. Value points- + Believed it was a waking dream, perhaps wish fulfilment. + Felt that like many man in the modern world Charley too was unhappy. "Modern world is full of trials and tribulations, worries and insecurities* Felt Charley wanted to escape this world. * People indulge in some sort of hobby to escape the stark harsh realities. + Even stamp collecting was a kind of temporary escape. * Charley refuted his contention- said people do not wander about due to stress. * Besides his grandfather had also collected stamps in the good old peaceful days of eighteen-nineties and did not need to escape as life was quite stress free in those days.- Q4. Elaborate the theme of the story Value Points- ‘The story primarily focuses on the atrocities of the modern world ~ full of insecurity, stress, fear, war é& hatred ~ one feels caged ~ by modern advancement ~ leads to tension and worries - leading people to look for means of an escape. In the story Charlie ~ creates the third level to seek refuge ~ eases his pressure ~ provides himself this simple way to relax. Practice Questions Short Answer type Questions (30-40 words) 1. Why did the psychiatrist's interpretation of Charley’s visit to Thirs Level upset Charley's wife? How did the psychiatrist pacify her? How did Charley reach the third level? What preparations did Charley make to go to Galesburg? eon 4. How did Charley defend himself from being accused as an escapist? 5. What do you know about a first-day cover? 6. How were Charley and Louisa convinced about the existence of the third level? Long Answer type Questions Answer the following in about 120-150 words 1. What differences did Charley observe at the third level of the Grand Central? 2. Hobbies provide a refuge from reality from our otherwise monotonous lives. Elaborate the statement in the light of the lesson. 3. Charley is so engrossed with fiction that he loses touch with reality, Do you agree? Give reason/s,The Third Level - Jack Finney Reading With Insight Exercise Questions (Page - 7) Question 1: Do you think that the third level was a medium of escape for Charley? Why? Ans Yes, the third level was a medium of escape for Charley. Life in the modern world is full of insecurity, fear, war, worries and stress. A person has to struggle with these realities for his xistence. The harsh realities of life make living quite unpleasant, tough and sometimes unbearable. A person resorts to escapism when he finds it difficult to confront with these difficulties in life. Charley possesses an escapist tendency. It is certainly a medium of escape for him. Actually there was no ‘third lever at al, It was merely a psychological shift in time and space of Charley's own mind where he combine s fantasy with reality. Charley finds comfort and peace in a world of fancy and romance. He finds himself into the world of 1894. It was a world of romance with wooden gates, derby hats, beards, and sideburns. Everything was very nice and peaceful where he did not require any refuge from reality. ‘Question 2: What do you infer from Sam's letter to Charley? Ans: In his letter Sam had written that he had found the Third Level, two weeks ago. According to the letter he was very happy to be in a very peaceful and hospitable town But the way Charley comes across Sam's letter is quite mysterious. The various circumstances in which Charley found the letter and also described it indicate that the letter is another piece of Charley's escapist fantasies. In other words, it is another 'walking-dream wish fulfillment’ of Charley. Question 3: "The modern world is full of insecurity, fear, war, worry, and stress." What are the ways in which we attempt to overcome them? Ans: Unlike the good old days, the modern world is full of insecurity, fear, war, worry, and stress. The constant struggling with these harsh realities for our existence makes our lives unpleasant and bitter. We attempt to overcome them through wishful thinking and escape into the world of fantasy. One takes refuge into the unreal world of imagination forgetting, harsh realities. This could be a psychological shift in time and space for one’s mind. Some people who are of creative minds find some useful occupation to overcome negative thoughts. Some keep themselves busy in social service whereas some writes poems, stories, and plays to find an emotional refuge or solace in an imaginary world. Charley in the lesson The Third Level” too indulges in fantasies in order to overcome the stress and strain of our modern world. Philately keeps the past alive for him. Question 4: Do you see an intersection of time and space in the story? Ans: Yes, there is an intersection of time and space in the story The Third Level. In the story the narrator moves from present to past. Along with time there is a shift of space and place too. From his real presence in New York, he imagines himself in Galesburg, Illinois. This shift of time and space is totally psychological or imaginary. In the story 'The Third Level’, the narrator (Charley) belongs to the present time but describes an experience of the last century on his imaginary “Third Level’. Later he opens an envelope which somebody mailed to hisgrandfather at his home in Galesburg. The postmark shows that it has been there among the first-day covers since July 18, 1894. Surprisingly it has a note written by Sam dated July 18, 1894 rand addressed to the narrator Charley. All these seem to be highly illogical and confusing. This is because the writer has made intersection of different times and spaces in his story. Question 5: Apparent illogicality sometimes turns out to be a futuristic projection. Discuss. Ans: Dreams are apparently illogical. But in the background of every invention, there was an imagination or dream by somebody at some point of time in the past. Once, Oliver would have dreamt of flying in the air like a bird, and somebody else of having equipment for wireless video communications in every pocket which, although seemed to be irrational then, became realities in future. Our unconscious mind has a remarkable capacity to manipulate things. Several times, our seemingly illogical behaviours tum out to be a futuristic projection. Man's unconscious mind may interpret such events in whatever ways but, there is no dearth of examples of such acts, like ~ 1. Ina fiction 1984’, George Orwell could imagine about the radical transformations that will take place in the communist world. Decades ago, he drew a picture of diminishing of the then Soviet Union into many states. Soviet Union does not exist anymore as it, disintegrated into many states. An apparently illogical description by George Orwell turned out to bea futuristic projection. 2. Many believe that an astrologer named Michel de Nostradamus could predict the future. His predictions of the future have mystified scholars for over 400 years. Nostradamus made over 1000 predictions and historians say that over half of them, have already come true. His predictions at the time when he did must have seemed to be illogical although kept on proving true even after centuries. Question 6: Philately helps keep the past 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: Philately is one of the oldest but effective ways to keep the past alive. The study of stamps is known as philately. Stamps reflect a country's history, culture, and civilization, Philately gives us an idea as well as reminds us of past events, prominent personalities, historical monuments, geography, flora, and fauna of present and past. Some other ways in which this is done are through the study of coins (numismatics), archaeology, the study of fossils (paleontology) etc. Yes, it isa human tendency to move constantly between the past, present and the future. We allare always in the present, since there is nowhere else to be, but that doesn't require our minds and thinking to be also in the present. It is queer that we often repent over the Past of which we don’t have control anymore, worry for the Future just in anticipation, but strangely, care least about the Present where we actually live in. The result frequently is guilt about our imperfect Past, anxiety for a non-existent Future, and impatience with the Present. So, I think, the correct way would be not to think much for the past and future rather, live in the present and enjoy the life.