# Question about Stephen Kings "IT"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-stephen-kings-it/196079>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [August 19, 2003, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-stephen-kings-it/196079 "2003-08-19T00:06:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![rolandgunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cdc98d/32.png) [@rolandgunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rolandgunslinger)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-stephen-kings-it/196079/1 "2003-08-19T00:06:57Z")

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why did Pennywise introduce himself as "Robert/Bob Gray to the Adult Bev?  
Is there somthing I’m missing?

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**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-stephen-kings-it/196079/2 "2003-08-19T01:26:05Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by rolandgunslinger \*  
> \*\*Is there somthing I’m missing? \*\*

I don’t think there is. http://www.horrorking.com/it.html"]This says the following:

> [@](#):
>
> Gray, Robert (Bob) One of the names of Pennywise the clown. This is possibly his real name, but the evil inside is much older.

Here’s how I always interpreted it. It assumes a human form in order to be able to lure children. In observing, It sees a clown who went by the name of Pennywise, but whose real name was Bob Gray. When It decided to assume his form for It’s own purposes, It adopted his name, too.

I don’t think there’s any real symbolism or anything that you didn’t pick up on.

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**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-stephen-kings-it/196079/3 "2003-08-19T01:27:24Z")

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Dammit. Can a moderator kindly fix up my link there?

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**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-stephen-kings-it/196079/4 "2003-08-19T04:32:35Z")

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There was a Bob Gray in Dreamcatcher too. Hmmmm.

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**Author:** ![Anniee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@Anniee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anniee)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-stephen-kings-it/196079/5 "2003-08-19T04:54:34Z")

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Oh COOL; I haven’t read It in years…but Mr. Gray was the evil…excellent.

I loathed the gangbang in It and I have no idea WHY the hell that was supposed to HELP and I HATED it and I HATED that it was a spider. BUT I admit _getting_ there was a wonderful journey. He can weave a tale like nobody’s business; make characters live…but then poops out at the end. Kind of like Arthur C. Clarke. So I may read It one more time; I don’t know. Maybe just to see if he intertwined themes from other books.

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**Author:** ![Anniee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@Anniee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anniee)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-stephen-kings-it/196079/6 "2003-08-19T04:56:27Z")

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That first sentence should say “Mr Gray was the evil in Dreamcatcher”