The nature of the deadlights -SPOILERS-

  • This message board permanently closed on June 30th, 2020 at 4PM EDT and is no longer accepting new members.

raperm

Active Member
Aug 22, 2016
28
112
53
I interpret the deadlights as more in the Lovecraftian vein, myself, mostly because they continually talk about how what they see isn't "real", but what their minds will allow.

I have heard a different interpretation, though, that was interesting, if maybe somewhat flawed. The deadlights are Hell.

If Pennywise/It is really a demon, and is from another plane of existence, then the deadlights might not be It's actual self, but are instead the place where it really lives. I do recall that in the book, It actually says something to that effect to Bill. "You'll be with me, where I am" or some-such. Don't recall the actual quote, but I do remember that he uses the word "with". Not "in". "With". As in if you go to the deadlights, you are where It lives, but not necessarily inside It.

So, Bill sees the deadlights and describes them as something that does sound sort of hellish. Orange, flaring light behind infinite bars formed like a cage. And in that place is supposed to be endless suffering and madness that you can't escape from.

So, is it possible that Pennywise really is a demon, and that he's from Hell? That his physical form is only an avatar of his real self in Hell, and all he can project in our dimension? I dunno, but it makes an interesting idea, and we know King enjoys religious themes in his books, so I suppose it's possible.

That said, I don't think it's Hell, myself. It shows no knowledge of God (or the "Other", which I think is supposed to be God), and the Bible does make it pretty clear that demons do indeed know who God is and are afraid of him. I think It is more like a Lovecraftian monster, an interdimensional being that has sent part of itself to Earth for reasons only It knows.
 

Doc Creed

Well-Known Member
Nov 18, 2015
17,221
82,822
47
United States
I interpret the deadlights as more in the Lovecraftian vein, myself, mostly because they continually talk about how what they see isn't "real", but what their minds will allow.

I have heard a different interpretation, though, that was interesting, if maybe somewhat flawed. The deadlights are Hell.

If Pennywise/It is really a demon, and is from another plane of existence, then the deadlights might not be It's actual self, but are instead the place where it really lives. I do recall that in the book, It actually says something to that effect to Bill. "You'll be with me, where I am" or some-such. Don't recall the actual quote, but I do remember that he uses the word "with". Not "in". "With". As in if you go to the deadlights, you are where It lives, but not necessarily inside It.

So, Bill sees the deadlights and describes them as something that does sound sort of hellish. Orange, flaring light behind infinite bars formed like a cage. And in that place is supposed to be endless suffering and madness that you can't escape from.

So, is it possible that Pennywise really is a demon, and that he's from Hell? That his physical form is only an avatar of his real self in Hell, and all he can project in our dimension? I dunno, but it makes an interesting idea, and we know King enjoys religious themes in his books, so I suppose it's possible.

That said, I don't think it's Hell, myself. It shows no knowledge of God (or the "Other", which I think is supposed to be God), and the Bible does make it pretty clear that demons do indeed know who God is and are afraid of him. I think It is more like a Lovecraftian monster, an interdimensional being that has sent part of itself to Earth for reasons only It knows.
I agree with basically everything you said. If it's not Hell, then it's a type of hell, I think.
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
87,651
358,754
62
Cambridge, Ohio
I interpret the deadlights as more in the Lovecraftian vein, myself, mostly because they continually talk about how what they see isn't "real", but what their minds will allow.

I have heard a different interpretation, though, that was interesting, if maybe somewhat flawed. The deadlights are Hell.

If Pennywise/It is really a demon, and is from another plane of existence, then the deadlights might not be It's actual self, but are instead the place where it really lives. I do recall that in the book, It actually says something to that effect to Bill. "You'll be with me, where I am" or some-such. Don't recall the actual quote, but I do remember that he uses the word "with". Not "in". "With". As in if you go to the deadlights, you are where It lives, but not necessarily inside It.

So, Bill sees the deadlights and describes them as something that does sound sort of hellish. Orange, flaring light behind infinite bars formed like a cage. And in that place is supposed to be endless suffering and madness that you can't escape from.

So, is it possible that Pennywise really is a demon, and that he's from Hell? That his physical form is only an avatar of his real self in Hell, and all he can project in our dimension? I dunno, but it makes an interesting idea, and we know King enjoys religious themes in his books, so I suppose it's possible.

That said, I don't think it's Hell, myself. It shows no knowledge of God (or the "Other", which I think is supposed to be God), and the Bible does make it pretty clear that demons do indeed know who God is and are afraid of him. I think It is more like a Lovecraftian monster, an interdimensional being that has sent part of itself to Earth for reasons only It knows.
..The Colour Out of Space.....
 
  • Like
Reactions: Neesy and mjs9153

Robert Gray

Well-Known Member
The Deadlights are certainly hell for those who get caught within them, but I think they far transcend the notion of a time or place. The Deadlights are an entity, an insane thing on the outside looking in. There is a massive, cosmic barrier restrains it from the egg that is multiverse. The Deadlights want in and pierce the barrier here and there allowing it to arrive in one world or another. The Deadlights have no form of their own, so these avatars of itself, i.e. the bits of light that shine through the holes in reality take their forms and rules from physical world in which it arrives. It reflects off our minds and takes a form. It gains a bit more sanity and stability of form because our perceptions allow it to refract itself, bend its Deadlights into something real (or at least mostly real). Actually managing to kill the avatar of this entity in one world or another, cuts it off and seals that breach.

Thus, Pennywise (a manifestation of the Deadlights) was a unique creature, native to the level of the Tower where it emerged. It was a reflection of that world and its peoples, albeit the worst of that world. It sought to sate its hunger and follow its urges, some of which were part of its mad caprice and some of which were applied to It by us, i.e. how we perceived it. It wasn't forced so much as it embraces these roles because it gives it inroads. The word demon is tossed around too easily, but I suppose if you wanted to do it this way:

D = DIMENSIONAL
E = ENTITY
M = MALEVOLENT
O = OMNIVORE
N = NASCENT

... you might be hitting it on the head. :D If a rose grows where you don't want it, it is just a weed. If a god acts in ways that terrify and destroy, it is a demon.