Previous
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.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
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.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
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!
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire The Third Level LitChart as a printable PDF.
Charley’s Psychiatrist (Sam) Character Timeline in The Third Level
The timeline below shows where the character Charley’s Psychiatrist (Sam) appears in The Third Level. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
The Third Level
...everyone else insists there are only two. Although he claims to have visited it, his psychiatrist says that his experience is nothing more than mental escapism from the modern world. Charley...
(full context)
...collection. However, he and Louisa both eventually pick up the search again after his friend Sam disappears. Although nobody knows where Sam went, Charley suspects that Sam found the third level...
(full context)
...collection before, so he opens it. Inside is a letter to Charley from his friend Sam, who tells Charley that he made it to 1894 Galesburg and loves it. Later, Charley...
(full context)
