About the author
Walter Braden 'Jack Finney' (October 2,1911-November 19,1995) was an American author. He graduated in 1934 from Knox College, Illinois. He was best known for his science fiction and thrillers. His best-known works include The Body Snatchers and Time and Again. In 1987, he was given the World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement at the World Fantasy Convention.
The Third Level Summary in English
The narrator Charley believes that there are three levels at the Grand Central Station when in reality there are only two. He claims that he has been on the third level of the Grand Central Station. His psychiatrist friend Sam Weiner explains that it is a waking dream wish fulfillment and that he is hallucinating. He also says that Charley is unhappy and wants to escape from the modern world full of fear, war, worry, insecurity, and other problems. He claims that his habit of stamp collecting is also a temporary escape from our painful reality.
One night Charley worked late at the office and was in a great hurry to get to his apartment with Louisa, his wife. He decided to take the subway from the Grand Central Station. He turned into the station from Vanderbilt Avenue and went down to the first level. Then he walked down to the second level, stooped down to an arched doorway heading for the subway, and got lost. The corridor started angling left and slanting downward. He couldn't see anyone there and all he could hear were his own footsteps sound. Then he heard a hollow roar ahead which meant open space and people talking. The tunnel then turned left; He went down the stairs and got to the third level at the Grand Central Station. This level looked very different from the other levels, the room was smaller, and there was less number of ticket windows and train gates. The information booth was wooden and old-looking. There were open-flame gaslights and brass spittoons on the floor. Everybody at that level was dressed in late 19th-century fashion. To be sure he glanced at 'The World' newspaper which was dated June 11, 1894 and the lead story read about President Cleveland, the then president of the United States.
Then he turned toward the ticket window to buy two tickets for himself and his wife to Galesburg, Illinois in 1894 with the war still years ahead. He wanted to go back to a peaceful world free of war and stress. The clerk at the ticket counter refused to accept the money bills that Charley offered and warned him that if he is trying to deceive him he won't go too far and will be punished. Charley left as fast as he could and the next day he bought three hundred dollars worth of old-style currency which was less than two hundred dollars in old-style bills. But he never found the third level again.
Louisa got worried and persuaded Charley to stop his search and after a while, he stopped. But now they both started their search again because they got proof that the third level exists. His friend Sam Weiner disappeared and the narrator Charley is sure that Sam is in Galesburg in the year 1894.
One night, looking at his stamp collection, Charley found a strange first-day cover that someone had mailed to his grandfather in Galesburg and it had been there since July 18, 1894. The stamp was a six-cent, dull brown, with a picture of President Garfield. The envelope had a letter for Charley written by Sam. In that letter, Sam confirms that there is a third level and that he is present in Galesburg, Illinois. He also asks Charley and Louisa to keep looking for the third level because it's worth it.
Later, Charley found out that Sam bought eight hundred dollars worth of old-style currency which would be sufficient to set up a hay feed and grain business which Sam always wished to do. Sam certainly can't go back to his old profession as a psychiatrist in Galesburg, in 1894 since no such profession existed at that time.
The Third Level Summary in Hindi
चार्ली यह दावा करता है कि वह ग्रैंड सेंट्रल स्टेशन का तीसरा स्तर (The Third Level) देख कर आया है। लेकिन रेलवे अधिकारियों के अनुसार, ग्रैंड सेंट्रल स्टेशन में केवल दो लेवल हैं। कोई भी चार्ली की इस बात पर विश्वास नहीं करता है। जब वह यह बात अपने मनोचिकित्सक मित्र को बताता है तो वह कहता है कि यह खुली आंखों से सपने देखने जैसा है। वह चार्ली से कहता है कि वह दुखी हैं और वास्तविकता से भाग रहा हैं। यह सुनकर चार्ली की बीवी लुइसा थोड़ा परेशान हो गई। मित्र ने यह भी कहा कि हर कोई असुरक्षा, भय, चिंता, और युद्ध से भरी इस दुनिया से बचना चाहता है। सभी ने कहा कि चार्ली की डाक टिकटों को इकट्ठा करने की आदत वास्तविकता से भागने का एक तरीका था। लेकिन चार्ली के अनुसार, उसका स्टांप संग्रह बाहरी दुनिया से भागने के लिए नहीं था क्योंकि उसके दादा ने यह स्टांप संग्रह उन दिनों में शुरू किया था जब बाहरी दुनिया अच्छी और शांतिपूर्ण थी। उसके अनुसार, यह सिर्फ एक शौक है, और इसका बाहरी दुनिया से कोई लेना-देना नहीं है।
एक गर्मियों की रात में देर तक काम करने के बाद चार्ली अपने घर पहुंचने की जल्दी में था, इसलिए उसने ग्रैंड सेंट्रल से सबवे के द्वारा जाने का फैसला किया क्योंकि वह बस से तेज थी। चार्ली किसी भी अन्य 31 वर्षीय व्यक्ति की तरह था। उसने ब्राउन रंग का Gabardine से बना सूट और एक टोपी पहन रखी थी। ग्रैंड सेंट्रल पहुंचने के बाद वह सीढ़ियों से नीचे चला गया और दुसरे स्तर पर आया जहाँ से उपनगरीय ट्रेनें आती थीं।
चार्ली ग्रैंड सेंट्रल स्टेशन में बहुत बार जा चुका था पर उस दिन वह एक द्वार में गया और अपना रास्ता भटक गया। लेकिन यह पहली बार नहीं था जब वह ग्रैंड सेंट्रल स्टेशन में एक सुरंग में खो गया था। एक बार वह ग्रैंड सेंट्रल स्टेशन में एक सुरंग में गया और रूज़वेल्ट होटल से बाहर आया था।
दूसरी बार वह एक कार्यालय भवन से
निकला था जो 3 ब्लॉक दूर था। वह सोचता है कि ग्रैंड सेंट्रल एक पेड़ की तरह
बढ़ रहा है और न्यूयॉर्क शहर के नीचे अपनी जड़ जैसी सुरंगों को फैला रहा
है।
इस बार जब वह सुरंग के अंत तक
पहुंचा, तो उसे पता चला कि वह ग्रैंड सेंट्रल स्टेशन के तीसरा स्तर (The Third Level) पर था। वहाँ उसने एक पुराने लकड़ी के सूचना रूम में बैठे एक
व्यक्ति को Green Eyeshade पहने देखा। दीवारों पर ढेर सारी लालटेनें लटक रही थीं जो टिमटिमा रही थी और फर्श पर
पीतल के थूकदान कोनो में पड़े हुए थे। लोग डर्बी हैट और 4 बटन वाले सूट पहने थे। चार्ली
ने अपने पूरे जीवन में इतनी दाढ़ी, मूंछ और गल्मुछे नहीं देखे थे।
फिर उन्होंने एक Carrier and Ives इंजन पर नज़र डाली। सब कुछ 1890 के दशक की तरह लग रहा था। उसके
संदेह की पुष्टि तब हुई जब उसने The World अखबार के पहले पन्ने पर 11 जून 1894 लिखा देखा।
फिर चार्ली टिकट खिड़की की ओर बड़ा। क्योंकि वह गल्ज्बर्ग
इलिनैस के लिए दो वन साइडेड
टिकट चाहता था। वह अपने और अपनी पत्नी के लिए दो टिकट चाहता था। लेकिन जब चार्ली ने पैसे
निकाले और उन्हें गिनना शुरू किया, तो क्लर्क ने उसे घूरना शुरू कर दिया।
अब चार्ली ने क्लर्क के पास पड़े
कैश दराज को देखा। उसने देखा कि यह पुरानी मुद्रा से भरा था। उसे यह डर
लग रहा था कि क्लर्क उस पर फ्रॉड का इलज़ाम ना लगा दे । चार्ली को 1894 में जेल जाने का डर था, इसलिए वह वहा से भाग गया।
अगले दिन चार्ली ने अपनी सारी जमा
पूंजी जो कि 300 डॉलर थी उससे पुरानी मुद्रा खरीद ली। इसके लिए उसे
प्रीमियम देना पड़ा। 300 डॉलर में उसे 200 डॉलर से कम पुरानी मुद्रा मिली, लेकिन यह मुद्रा काफी थी
क्योंकि 1894 में सब कुछ बहुत सस्ता था।
लेकिन दोबारा बहुत बार कोशिश
करने के बाद भी, चार्ली को ग्रैंड सेंट्रल स्टेशन पर तीसरा स्तर (The Third Level) नहीं मिल पाया। जब उसने अपनी पत्नी को यह सब बताया तो वह चिंतित
हो गई। और कुछ समय बाद
चार्ली ने फिर से स्टैम्प इकट्ठा करने शुरू कर दिए।
एक दिन चार्ली का दोस्त सैम वेनर गायब हो गया, और किसी को भी नहीं पता था कि उसे कहां ढूंढना है। अब चार्ली को यकीन था कि तीसरा स्तर (The Third Level) वास्तविकता में मौजूद है। जब चार्ली अपने स्टैम्प कलेक्शन को देख रहा था तो उसे एक अनोखा First-Day Cover मिला, जिसे उसने इससे पहले कभी नहीं देखा था। यह 11 जुलाई 1894 को लिखा गया था जिसे सैम द्वारा चार्ली को भेजा गया था।
इस पत्र में, सैम ने लिखा कि चार्ली थर्ड लेवल के बारे में सही था और उसे तब तक तलाश करनी चाहिए जब तक वह तीसरा स्तर (The Third Level) को दोबारा नहीं ढूंढ लेता। सैम ने लिखा कि वह तीसरा स्तर (The Third Level) को ढूंढ कर गल्ज्बर्ग में पहुंच चुका था। उसने कहा कि वह यह एक बहुत ही खुशहाल और शांतिपूर्ण जगह थी और वहां लोग हर समय नाचते गाते रहते थे। अब चार्ली को पता चला कि सैम के पास 800 डॉलर की पुरानी मुद्रा थी, जो उसके लिए एक चारा और अनाज का व्यवसाय स्थापित करने के लिए पर्याप्त थी। इस काम को सैम हमेशा से करना चाहता था। चार्ली जानता था कि 1894 में सैम अब अपना पुराना व्यवसाय नहीं कर सकता था क्योंकि वह और कोई नहीं बल्कि चार्ली का मनोचिकित्सक मित्र था।
अध्याय का मुख्य विषय है कि कैसे एक साधारण आदमी इस आधुनिक दुनिया में चिंता, भय और असुरक्षा से भरा हुआ है। और इससे बचने के लिए वह किस हद तक जा सकता है। पूरे अध्याय में यह देखा जा सकता है कि चार्ली कैसे न्यूयॉर्क की आधुनिक दुनिया से निकलकर गल्ज्बर्ग की काल्पनिक दुनिया में गुम हो जाता है। ये दोनों दुनिया एक-दूसरे से बिलकुल अलग हैं पर चार्ली की कल्पना में इन दोनों का कोई दायरा नहीं है।
हम देख सकते हैं कि चार्ली को इस बात की परवाह नहीं है कि कोई भी उसके बारे में क्या सोचता है। वह अभी भी अपनी कल्पना में कायम है और तीसरा स्तर (The Third Level) को खोजने में कोई कसर नहीं छोड़ता।
The Third Level full chapter
The Third Level in Hindi: A Review Of The
Translation
The Third Level Question & Answer
Read and Find out
Q1. What does the third level refer to?
Ans. Third level refers to an additional floor at the Grand Central Station which originally only had two levels. Charley was hallucinating one night while going home when he reached the third level.
Q2. Would Charley ever go back to the ticket-counter on the third level to buy tickets to Galesburg for himself and his wife?
Ans. Charley went looking back for the third level that could take him and his wife to Galesburg because he wanted to go back to his past. He wanted to go back to the world that has not seen two of its deadliest wars that changed everything.
Read with insight:
Q1. Do you think that the third level was a medium of escape for Charley? Why?
Ans. Yes, the third level of the Grand Central Station was a medium of escape for Charley. Modern world offers a lot of challenges and in order to take refuge from reality, one might resort to day-dreaming or hallucination We all understand the miseries of the modern world which is full of worry and pressure, thus, in order to take the burden away from his shoulders and heap a sigh of relief, Charley resorted to escaping reality, although unintentionally.
Q2. What do you infer from Sam’s letter to Charley?
Ans. The way Charley discovered Sam’s letter was rather peculiar. It was one of those first-day covers people used to mail to themselves back in time with a blank page inside. So to begin with, the cover had a letter in it and not a blank page in it. Secondly, the letter dates back to 18 July, 1894 when Sam (the writer of the letter) didn’t exist because both Sam and Charley exist in the present times. Thus, it is sound to conclude that it was just a product of Charley’s imagination.
Q3. The modern world is full of insecurity, fear, war, worry and stress. What are the ways in which we attempt to overcome them?
Ans. One cannot count on fingers the negative aspects the modern lifestyle has to offer. There is stress, pressure, fear, insecurity and worry. In order to relieve yourself of all these miseries, one can indulge in creative activities from time to time. Making time for yourself and what you love without worrying about a productive outcome is a crucial thing many people tend to ignore in the hustle and bustle of daily lives. Secondly, one can read a good book or even meditate. Long walks in the lap of nature are not to be underestimated because nature has its own healing power. Apart from these, a short weekend getaway, movie night with friends or even alone at home can be done in order to dissociate oneself from the routine.
Q4. Do you see an intersection of time and space in the story?
Ans. Yes, there are a lot of instances that tell us about the intersection of time and space in the story. First intersection being the one between the first two levels of the Grand Central Station and its third level which is based somewhere in the 1890s whereas the former exists in the present times. Also when Charley went to buy tickets for Galesburg which existed in 1894 while he and his wife exist in the present times. Not to ignore the old fashioned architecture of the third level in contradiction to the modern interiors of the first two levels. Lastly, the letter dated 18th July, 1982 that Charley found also throws light upon the intersection of time and space as both the sender (Sam) and the receiver (Charley) exist in the present times.
Q5. Apparent illogicality sometimes turns out to be a futuristic projection? Discuss.
Ans. While a lot of the world's greatest inventions were made by people who were criticized for their ideas. Audiences used to mock at them for being illogical. Sighting the example of Thomas Edison who invented the light bulb, no one believed in him at first but all he had was an idea and its realistic projection in mind. The idea here tells us how important it is to sometimes follow one's insight and have hope for it holds the capacity to change the world through its futuristic projections.
Q6. 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 does indeed help in keeping the treasures of past alive. It gives one a chance to revisit and embrace the past of one's existence. Some of the other ways in which it can be done is by keeping a record of all the letters, ancient manuscripts, things that are discontinued but were a significant part of the past, images, videos and written records of experiences. Human beings are a collection of all the experiences they have been through. Their tendency to connect with the past from time to time helps them stay connected to the roots while helping them to face the present and future challenges with more strength. Connecting with the future on the other hand, is just as important to know the outcome of one's current actions and decisions. If one doesn't seem satisfied with the realistic interpretation of future, it can certainly help in altering current actions to direct towards a better future.
The Third Level full chapter
The Third Level in Hindi: A Review Of The
Translation
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