At the Grand Central Railway Station, the narrator perceives three levels, although there are only two. He discusses this with his psychiatrist friend, Sam Weiner. Sam believes the narrator’s experience is a waking-dream wish fulfillment, suggesting that the narrator is unhappy and the modern man is overwhelmed by insecurities and fears, seeking an escape from their stressful lives.
The narrator’s hobby of stamp collection serves as a temporary refuge from reality, according to Sam. However, the narrator disagrees, arguing that his grandfather lived in peaceful times and didn’t need to escape reality, yet he pursued philately.
Charley Reaches ‘The Third Level’
One summer night, Charley worked late at the office and rushed home, deciding to take the subway from Grand Central. He crossed the arched doorway heading for the subway but got lost. The narrator feels that the Grand Central Station grows like a tree, with new corridors and stairs emerging like roots. As he walks down a corridor, he hears only the echo of his footsteps. Suddenly, he finds himself at the third level of Grand Central Station!
The rooms were smaller, with fewer ticket windows, and open-flame gaslights illuminated the space. The information booth was made of wood and appeared ancient. Everyone at the station was dressed in the fashion of the late 19th century. Naturally, the narrator purchased a copy of The World dated June 11, 1894, featuring a lead story about President Cleveland.
He attempted to buy two tickets to Galesburg, Illinois, for himself and his wife Louisa, envisioning a serene countryside of 1894—twenty years before World War I and forty years before World War II. However, the clerk refused his modern currency, sensing trouble, and Charley hastily fled.
The following day, Charley withdrew $300 from the bank to purchase old-style 1890s currency. His psychiatrist friend expressed concern for him. The exchange reduced his $300 to $200 in old bills, but Charley remained undeterred; he was determined to reach the third level.
Charley failed to find the third level again. His wife grew worried and persuaded him to stop searching. He resumed his stamp collection. Then, his psychiatrist friend Sam disappeared. A first-day cover in his grandfather’s collection revealed a letter dated July 18, 1894, from Sam, confirming the existence of the third level and urging Charley to continue his search.
Charley discovered that Sam had purchased $800 in old-style currency—sufficient to establish a hay, feed, and grain business in Galesburg in 1894. As a psychiatrist, Sam was not an option at that time, as the profession did not exist.
NCERT Solutions (Reading with Insight)
1.Do you believe that the third level served as a means of escape for Charley? Why?Yes, the third level provided Charley with an escape from the modern world, which was filled with worry, insecurity, and stress. He yearned for peaceful times like those in Galesburg, and the third level symbolized the realization of that dream.
2.What insights can we gain from Sam’s letter to Charley?Sam’s letter reflects Charley’s imagination. Discovered inside an old first-day cover, it suggests that Sam is living in Galesburg, 1894, and advises Charley to continue searching for the third level.
By engaging in productive hobbies, spending quality time with family, maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and nurturing creativity, we can effectively manage and overcome modern anxieties and stress.
4..Do you perceive an intersection of time and space within the story?
Yes, the third level serves as a portal where time and space converge. Charley transitions from his present-day world into a 19th-century setting, creating a blend of two different timelines.
What may appear illogical today can become a reality tomorrow, as exemplified by inventions like airplanes, telephones, and mobile phones. Imaginative and seemingly absurd ideas often lead to groundbreaking innovations.
Other methods include maintaining diaries, preserving letters, coins, souvenirs, and utilizing photos or videos. These practices allow individuals to revisit the past, reflect on the present, and envision the future.