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 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.