King as Creator.

[akelley]

Hello all.

There is an odd part towards the end of It that I am only just noticing. The Losers are walking towards the Barrens as adults (this is page 962 of my edition) and Ben falls over. The narrator says:

As he got to his feet again he realized that his face and arms and hands had been striped by blackberry thorns in two dozen places.

Ben then says out loud "Make that three dozen." Eddie then asks him what he said and Ben replies "Nothing."

I found this interesting because in this instance it seems Ben not only can hear the narrator (or King himself, however you want to look at it), but he corrects him. It's the only time this happens in the book that I have noticed before. They play around a lot with It getting into the heads of the characters and the Losers hearing voices, but this seems to be an instance where Ben is aware that he is part of a story and literally corrects his creator. Any theories?

 

[FlakeNoir]

Welcome to the site. And no, I hadn't noticed, but that is very interesting.

 

[mjs9153]

I just figured it was another instance where the particular character was making a notation in their mind,and in this case he just corrected his thought aloud..I don't see where this is different than any other place in the book,maybe I am missing your point..anyhow,welcome to the board,enjoy and keep posting!

 

[FlakeNoir]

I need to re-read this book!

 

[danie]

As he got to his feet again he realized that his face and arms and hands had been striped by blackberry thorns in two dozen places.

Yeah, I think, even though this is a "narration" line it's telling us Ben's thoughts. Originally he thought he had two dozen stripes. Then, out loud, in his dialogue, he corrects it to three dozen, kinda out loud to himself.

 

[Debbie913]

Welcome to the SKMB! Post some more...go on, you'll like it.

 

[akelley]

I just feel like otherwise, King would expressly tell you that his character was thinking something. If not, it is just factual narration. Anyway, maybe I'm reading too much into this. Thanks for the kind welcomes!

 

[blunthead]

Welcome to the Board!

 

[Spideyman]

Hi and welcome!

 

[skimom2]

I just feel like otherwise, King would expressly tell you that his character was thinking something. If not, it is just factual narration. Anyway, maybe I'm reading too much into this. Thanks for the kind welcomes!

Nah. We as readers are in Ben's head right then. There was no reason to denote the comment as a thought -"he thought" would be redundant and therefore wasted words in an already huge novel
Welcome to the board!

 

[bobledrew]

Yeah, I think skimom2 has it.

 

[Alexandra M]

Hello and welcome to SK Land.

Have to admit I liked your interpretation of the passage. But, I think he is talking to himself; only. If he would have answered in some way I would
totally agree with your thoughts. But since he didn't; I tend to think he was the only one in on this conversation. Although SK does like to make
cameo appearances in his movies; hopefully this may happen in the future. It would certainly draw him in to the story and I would like that.

 

[Ashcrash]

welcome

 

[Padonak]

Welcome

 

[Ashcrash]

Hello all.

There is an odd part towards the end of It that I am only just noticing. The Losers are walking towards the Barrens as adults (this is page 962 of my edition) and Ben falls over. The narrator says:

As he got to his feet again he realized that his face and arms and hands had been striped by blackberry thorns in two dozen places.

Ben then says out loud "Make that three dozen." Eddie then asks him what he said and Ben replies "Nothing."

I found this interesting because in this instance it seems Ben not only can hear the narrator (or King himself, however you want to look at it), but he corrects him. It's the only time this happens in the book that I have noticed before. They play around a lot with It getting into the heads of the characters and the Losers hearing voices, but this seems to be an instance where Ben is aware that he is part of a story and literally corrects his creator. Any theories?

oh my gosh really. I have read that book at least five times and never noticed. What a fantastic question. I have no answer to it though.

 

[Riot87]

welcome to the skmb

 

[CrimsonKingAH]

Welcome to SKMB... hope you like it here.. we have balloons!

 

[GNTLGNT]

Nah. We as readers are in Ben's head right then. There was no reason to denote the comment as a thought -"he thought" would be redundant and therefore wasted words in an already huge novel
Welcome to the board!

...and I went the biblical route in my interpretation...Ben as Job and The Losers the persecuted "tribe"...Ben being whipped with thorns-a mashup of Jesus's suffering....

 

[Neesy]

Hello all.

There is an odd part towards the end of It that I am only just noticing. The Losers are walking towards the Barrens as adults (this is page 962 of my edition) and Ben falls over. The narrator says:

As he got to his feet again he realized that his face and arms and hands had been striped by blackberry thorns in two dozen places.

Ben then says out loud "Make that three dozen." Eddie then asks him what he said and Ben replies "Nothing."

I found this interesting because in this instance it seems Ben not only can hear the narrator (or King himself, however you want to look at it), but he corrects him. It's the only time this happens in the book that I have noticed before. They play around a lot with It getting into the heads of the characters and the Losers hearing voices, but this seems to be an instance where Ben is aware that he is part of a story and literally corrects his creator. Any theories?

No theory - I just looked on page 962 and in my copy it is about finding a bag with stuff in it (something to do with Sausalita Nights) indicating someone's wife is down there (under the city in the sewers).

Anyway Welcome to the board akelley

 

[bobledrew]

Neesy, it's on page 961 of my paperback copy. Chapter 20, section 6, subtitled "in the barrens."