THE THIRD LEVEL
- JACK FINNEY
Reading With Insight -
1) Do you think that the third level was a medium of escape for Charley ? Why ?
Answer ) Yes, I think that the third level was a medium of escape for Charley. Life in medium world is full of fear, war, worries and stress. Man has to confront them all the times. The harsh realities of life make living unpleasant and even unfavorable. So he wants to escape into a wishful world. His friend call it ''a walking-dream wish fulfillment. Charley possesses escapist tendency. Even his stamp collecting is a 'temporary refuge from reality.
2) What do you infer from Sam's letter to Charley ?
Answer ) The way Charley came across Sam's letter was surrounded in mystery. Among his oldest first-day covers, he found an envelop. The envelop bore the address of his Grandfather. It was written on July 18, 1894. Generally first-day covers have blank papers in them, but this one contained a letter. In the letter Sam informed Charley that he was living on the third level. He also told Charley and his wife for keep looking for third level. Clearly, the letter was a product of Charley's imagination and shows his escapist tendency.
3) ''The modern world is full of insecurity, fear, war, worry and stress.'' What are the ways in which we attempt to overcome them ?
Answer ) Unlike good old days, the modern world is full of insecurity, fear, war, stress and worry. 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.
Charley in the lesson too includes in fantasies in order to overcome the stress and stain. Philately keeps the past alive for him.
4) Do you see an intersection of time and space in the story ?
Answer ) Yes, there are instances in the story which show intersection of time and space.
Firstly, the first two levels of Grand Central Station were located in the present time while the third level existed in the 1890's. Secondly, Charley and his wife, Louisa, live in the present time yet he rushes to get old currency to buy two tickets to go to the Gales bury of 1894. Lastly, that was mailed to Charley's grandfather on 18th July, 1894 hi-lights the intersection of time and space as the sender and receiver belong to the present time.
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