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Charley
Charley’s psychiatrist explains away Charley’s encounter with the third level as a moment of mental escapism. In this way, he functions as the pragmatic and modern foil to Charley, who is much more open to unusual experiences and wishes to escape modernity. However, things take a dramatic turn at the end of the story when Charley discovers that his friend Sam has found the third level and, unlike Charley, was able to return to 1894 Galesburg. In the very last line of the story, it’s revealed that Sam was actually Charley’s psychiatrist. Since he cannot be a psychiatrist in the 19th century, Sam instead chooses to follow his true dream of opening a business with the large amount of old-time currency he was able to buy before his journey. With this ending, then, the story suggests that even people like Sam, who have ostensibly bought into the cold pragmatism of modern society, desire the simpler life represented by the 19th century in the story.
Charley’s Psychiatrist (Sam) Quotes in The Third Level
The The Third Level quotes below are all either spoken by Charley’s Psychiatrist (Sam) or refer to Charley’s Psychiatrist (Sam). For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
The Third Level
Quotes
I told him about the third level at Grand Central Station, and he said it was a waking-dream wish fulfillment. He said I was unhappy. That made my wife kind of mad, but he explained that he meant the modern world is full of insecurity, fear, war, worry and all the rest of it, and that I just want to escape. Well, hell, who doesn’t? Everyone I know wants to escape, but they don’t wander down into any third level at Grand Central Station.
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My friend Sam Weiner disappeared! Nobody knew where, but I sort of suspected because Sam’s a city boy, and I used to tell him about Galesburg—I went to school there—and he always said he liked the sound of the place.
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Charley, it’s true; I found the third level! I’ve been here two weeks, and right now, down the street at the Daly’s, someone is playing a piano, and they’re all out on the front porch singing, “Seeing Nellie home.” And I’m invited over for lemonade. Come on back, Charley and Louisa. Keep looking till you find the third level! It’s worth it, believe me!
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Charley’s Psychiatrist (Sam) Quotes in The Third Level
The The Third Level quotes below are all either spoken by Charley’s Psychiatrist (Sam) or refer to Charley’s Psychiatrist (Sam). For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
The Third Level
Quotes
I told him about the third level at Grand Central Station, and he said it was a waking-dream wish fulfillment. He said I was unhappy. That made my wife kind of mad, but he explained that he meant the modern world is full of insecurity, fear, war, worry and all the rest of it, and that I just want to escape. Well, hell, who doesn’t? Everyone I know wants to escape, but they don’t wander down into any third level at Grand Central Station.
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My friend Sam Weiner disappeared! Nobody knew where, but I sort of suspected because Sam’s a city boy, and I used to tell him about Galesburg—I went to school there—and he always said he liked the sound of the place.
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Charley, it’s true; I found the third level! I’ve been here two weeks, and right now, down the street at the Daly’s, someone is playing a piano, and they’re all out on the front porch singing, “Seeing Nellie home.” And I’m invited over for lemonade. Come on back, Charley and Louisa. Keep looking till you find the third level! It’s worth it, believe me!
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