How does Charley’s friend Sam react to his story of the third level? What does Sam’s letter reveal about his own attitude and actions?

Answer as written by the student:

Charley’s friend Sam reacts to his story of the third level by dismissing it as a mere hallucination or a temporary escape from reality. He tries to convince Charley that there is no such thing as the third level at Grand Central Station and that he should see a psychiatrist for his problem. He also makes fun of Charley’s desire to go back to 1894, which he considers a boring and backward period. 

However, Sam’s letter reveals that he himself has found the third level and has gone to Galesburg in 1894 with his wife. He writes to Charley from there and invites him to join them. He also sends him some old stamps as proof of his claim. This shows that Sam has changed his attitude and actions after experiencing the third level himself. He has also succumbed to the temptation of escaping from the present to the past. 

Step-by-step explanation of the answer:

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This answer consists of two sentences: one that answers how Charley’s friend Sam reacts to his story of the third level, and one that answers what Sam’s letter reveals about his own attitude and actions.

• The first sentence answers how Charley’s friend Sam reacts to his story of the third level by describing his disbelief and ridicule. The sentence uses words like “dismissing”, “convince”, “see a psychiatrist”, and “makes fun” to show how Sam rejects and mocks Charley’s story. The sentence also uses words like “hallucination”, “escape”, “no such thing”, and “boring and backward” to show how Sam views the third level as an illusion and an undesirable place.
• The second sentence answers what Sam’s letter reveals about his own attitude and actions by describing his discovery and departure. The sentence uses words like “reveals”, “found”, “gone”, “writes”, “invites”, and “sends” to show how Sam admits and shares his experience of the third level. The sentence also uses words like “Galesburg”, “1894”, “wife”, and “old stamps” to show how Sam has moved from the present to the past with his family and has evidence of his claim.

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