The Third Level

 THE THIRD LEVEL

By-Jack Finney

Introduction

Grand Central Station of New York has two levels But Charley, the thirty one year old protagonist the story, a city dweller, declares that there are three and claims to have been there as well. The Thed Level is a story that weaves together a psychological journey of the narrator into past, present, ni noves towards future.

Theme

The story. The Third Level clearly explores the science fiction genre of 'time travel Jak Finney, the recipient of the World Fantasy Award, interweaves fantasy with reality in his projection of time travel. Charley, the protagonist wishes to be transported to the third level, de vorld of Galesburg, Illinois, 1894, which is supposed to be a much happier and quieter place to be in.

The story also dwells on the theme of escapism as a psychological refuge from the grim mities of the present day world along with a desire to stay with the pasta desire that Qarley's wife Louisa does not contest. Sam has also happily escaped, with no desire to return his old profession.

The story exposes the vulnerable side of the common man. Surrounded by myriad padlems, we humans, sometimes experience a craving for peace and serenity, and look for Prible escapes. This story is about time intersection, an illusion, a kind of long dream that we not experience during our sleep.

Main Characters

Charley

Charley is a thirty-one year old man in a tan gabardine suit and a straw hat. One night, his way back from work he decides to take the subway at the Grand Central Station, which veryone knows, has two levels. Preoccupied and in a hurry, Charley discovers an unknown e that takes him through a long corridor, into the third level

the is a true of medieran escapist and wants to escape from the world Charley is a true representative of modern man. He is a victim of stress, insecurity and Harsh realities.

Sam

Sam Weiner is Charley's friend, and psychiatrist, and the next most important characte in the story. He concludes that the third level is a figment of Charley's imagination, induced the pressures of modern living.

Sam gets fascinated by Charley's description of Galesburg, Illinois, at a wonderful town with big old frame houses, huge lawns, tremendous trees, the sul world of Gates the pills and pressures of modern life that he thinks of escaping to the peaceful world of Galesburg of 1894

Louisa

Charley's wife Louisa was initially angry with Sam's suggestion that Charley was unhappy, when Charley tells him about his sojourn to the third level of the Grand Central Station in New York. Then, Sam explains that it is not marital unhappiness, but dissatisfaction and discontent with modern day living with its insecurity, fear, war and worry. To escape from these pressures, Charley's mind had sought refuge in the idyllic world of the third level. Louisa's conviction in the existence of the third level is affirmed only when she sees the note sent by Sam himself, from Galesburg, Illinois, dated July 18, 1894. Since then, Louisa has been actively involved in looking for the third level, along with her husband, Charley.

Summary

The story revolves around the key instance where protagonist, Charley, chanced upon a third level at the Grand Central Station, New York. Even though he has been there hundreds of times, he was always discovering new tunnels and doorways, so he kept on when he found a new level where he knew should've been only two. To him, Grand Central was always growing like a tree, pushing out new tunnels and corridors.

To his surprise, the third level was completely different and old-fashioned. He noticed that the locomotive, the brass spittoons and the naked gaslight belonged to eighteen-ninety something. Women's fashion further confirmed his doubt. He now desired to visit Galesburg for he saw it as his chance to go back to a peaceful time. However, he was called out for trying to pay the fare with money that was completely different from the one used in those days. Charley, thus, ran back out into the present. He never found the third level again.

When he told his psychiatrist friend, the latter told Charley that it must be him looking for an escape and suggested he was unhappy. Ironically, his psychiatric friend disappeared and when Charley found a note from him, addressed to him from 1894, he learned how happy his friend Sam was living in the 1800s.