The Origins of IT: From Macroverse to Derry

The character IT from the popular film franchise IT by Stephen King has a rich and mysterious backstory that delves into the depths of a different dimension known as Macroverse. To truly understand the nature of IT, one must explore its origins, its various forms, and its impact on the town of Derry, Maine.

The Macroverse and IT's True Form

IT first comes from a dimension completely outside our observable universe, referred to as the Macroverse. This realm is also known as the Todash Darkness in Stephen King’s Dark Tower series. In this void, IT exists in its true form, often described as a deadlight due to the dim and lifeless nature of the realm.

IT's True Form in the Deadlights

While most of the time IT takes on a malevolent and terrifying form when it enters our dimension, IT’s true form is even more terrifying. IT described its true form as an endless, crawling, hairy creature made of orange light. This form is glimpsed in the Deadlights, a realm within the Macroverse that IT occasionally visits.

Variety of IT's Manifestations

While IT is capable of taking many forms, its most well-known incarnation is a malevolent clown known as Pennywise. However, IT also manifests in other fashions, such as an enormous female spider. Unlike the malevolent and anthropomorphic form, these other forms seem to be more aligned with IT's predatory nature.

IT's Natural Enemy: The Turtle

IT has a natural enemy from the Macroverse known as The Turtle, also referred to as Maturin in the Dark Tower series. The Turtle appears as one of the Guardians of the Beam. Despite these supernatural adversaries, IT’s primary focus remains on the human realm, particularly the town of Derry, Maine.

Arrival on Earth

IT's arrival on Earth is not a myth or folklore but a cataclysmic event that occurred millions of years ago, long before the formation of the town of Derry, Maine. According to the lore, IT slumbered beneath the Earth for millions of years, awaiting the arrival of mankind. Once humanity arrived, IT awakened and began a cycle of feeding on the fears of the people of Derry and then resuming its hibernation for cycles of 27 to 30 years.

Focusing on Children's Fears

Children's fears are particularly easy to harvest and manipulate into physical form. This is why IT primarily preys on the children of Derry, Maine. It takes the form of Pennywise the Dancing Clown, seemingly due to King’s belief that children are more susceptible to manipulation and fear-based storytelling.

Ancient Evil: IT in the Town of Derry

The impact of IT on Derry, Maine, is extensive and long-lasting. Ben Jeremy Ray Taylor, a character in the novel, discovered that IT has been a part of Derry’s history for centuries. It is responsible for several catastrophic events, such as the Kitchener Iron Works explosion that killed 108 people, including 88 children.

IT’s presence is also linked to violent acts. The film begins with the beating to death of a boy named Dorcey Corcoran by his stepfather Richard Macklin in 1957, which triggers IT’s awakening. Despite the frequency of tragedies and missing children, the townspeople remain unaware of IT's role, as the community avoids dwelling on the dark events.

Conclusion

The complex origin and the various manifestations of IT make it a compelling and terrifying character. From its home in the Macroverse to its terrifying influence on the town of Derry, Maine, IT remains a powerful and enduring presence in literature and film. Understanding its origins helps to piece together the horror and mystery that make Stephen King’s works so resonant with audiences.