The Role of Parents and Adults

How the parents and other adults in Derry either enabled or ignored the evil, and the contrast with the children's agency.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

Neglect and Denial

The Blindness of Grownups The Denbroughs After George's death, Bill's parents withdrew into grief, leaving Bill emotionally neglected. They never talked about George and seemed to blame Bill. This isolation drove Bill to seek revenge on his own. The Kaspbraks Sonia Kaspbrak's overprotectiveness kept Eddie sick and dependent. She refused to see that her son needed independence. Her denial of Eddie's asthma being psychosomatic was a form of abuse. The Town The adults of Derry, including the police and the media, downplayed the child murders. They accepted the official explanations and looked the other way. This collective denial allowed It to continue its predation.

The Exceptions

The Helpful Adults Mr. Nell Officer Nell was one of the few adults who took the children seriously. He warned them about the dangers of the Barrens but also respected their independence. He became an ally. Will Hanlon Mike's father, Will Hanlon, was a strong and wise figure. He taught Mike about Derry's history and the importance of standing up to evil. His stories about the Black Spot fire gave Mike context for the evil they faced. The Contrast These adults were exceptions. Most adults were either oblivious or complicit. The Losers learned that they could not rely on grownups; they had to take matters into their own hands.

1957-1958

1958