Part 4 — Chapter 4 | Sea of Tranquility • SparknotesAI

Part 4 — Chapter 4

The chapter is a contemplation by the narrator, wondering if the reality he is living in could actually be a simulation.
He experiences moments like riding the trolley, the vibrations of the vehicle, the sound around him and the smell of roses, and wonders how real they can be if they were just simulated experiences.
His friend, Zoey, earlier suggested in her office that there might be a need to investigate the possibility of living in a simulation, but did not claim it as proof.
The narrator experiences hunger and ponders if that sensation, along with food like cheeseburgers, can also be part of the simulation.
Zoey suggests that to investigate their reality, they would need to visit different points in time and talk to individuals like the letter writer in 1912, the video artist in 2019 or 2020, and the novelist in 2203.
It is revealed time travel was invented but quickly made illegal due to its disastrous impacts. A significant number of people are serving life sentences on the moon for either success or attempts at time travel.
Zoey questions why the narrator is surprised, hinting that the 'Time Institute' they are associated with has more to it than meets the eye.
Despite the conversations and evidence, the narrator is skeptical about them living in a simulation. He walks home, eager to feel the scheduled rainfall, it's referred to as scheduled, because 'it isn’t coming from clouds' suggesting further the possibility they may be living in a simulated environment.