The new series It: Welcome to Derry is filled with hidden meanings, and one of the most frequent symbols is the turtle. From school mascots to a lucky charm, these turtles are not random. They are a direct nod to a powerful and ancient force from Stephen King’s stories, setting up a cosmic battle between good and evil that goes far beyond the town of Derry.
The Turtle Clues in Derry
From the very first episode, viewers are introduced to several turtle symbols. The most prominent is at Derry High School, where a sign outside the school reads, “Bert the Turtle Says: Duck and Cover“. Inside the school, a person in a Bert the Turtle mascot costume promotes nuclear safety, a major concern of the era.
Another key turtle appears in a flashback. Two young characters, Matty and Lilly, are seen trading prizes from their Cracker Jack boxes. Matty gets a turtle charm and offers it to Lilly.
Lilly: “Sure! Turtles are lucky.”
Lilly takes the charm and attaches it to her bracelet, carrying it with her everywhere. This “lucky” turtle charm later plays a key role, seemingly helping to save Lilly from Pennywise the Clown. These repeated images confirm the turtles are a deliberate pattern, not just background decoration.
The Deeper Meaning: Maturin the Turtle
The many turtle images are Easter eggs referencing Maturin, a cosmic turtle from Stephen King’s novel “It” and his larger fictional universe. Maturin is no ordinary animal; he is a god-like, ancient being of immense power and benevolence.
In Stephen King’s stories, Maturin is described as a titanic, cosmic turtle composed of energy, with galaxies visible within his toenails. He is one of the twelve Guardians of the Beams that hold up the Dark Tower, the center of King’s fictional multiverse. According to the lore, Maturin accidentally created the universe when he vomited after a stomachache.
Maturin is everything Pennywise is not: kind, gentle, wise, and a protector. This makes him the natural enemy of the evil shapeshifter. In the original “It” novel, Maturin acts as a guide, offering advice and encouragement to a young Bill Denbrough during his battle against It, urging him to use his mental strength to win.
Turtles in the Wider Stephen King Universe
Maturin’s importance extends far beyond Derry, Maine. He is a foundational part of what fans call the Stephen King multiverse. The turtle appears in other King works, including The Dark Tower series and is mentioned in 11/22/63.
This connection is why the show’s director, Andy Muschietti, confirmed that It: Welcome to Derry would connect to the larger Dark Tower story. While the recent “It” movies included many turtle references—like a Lego turtle, a sticker on a schoolbook, and a statue—they never showed Maturin directly. The prequel series, with its heavy focus on the imagery, suggests the cosmic turtle might finally have a more prominent role.
Why a Turtle? The Cultural Connection
Stephen King’s choice of a turtle as a cosmic guardian is rooted in global myths and the animal’s natural traits. The idea of a world-bearing turtle is a common concept across many cultures.
- Hindu mythology features Kurma, a giant turtle that supports the world.
- Chinese mythology speaks of Ao, a sea turtle that carries the homes of immortals.
- North American Lenape and Zulu folklore also have creation stories involving turtles.
Turtles are universally seen as symbols of wisdom, longevity, and stability. Their long lifespans and steady nature make them perfect figures to represent an ancient, patient force for good in the universe. In the context of Welcome to Derry, every turtle symbol is a quiet reminder that a protective, hopeful force exists against the terror of Pennywise.
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What the Turtles Mean for the Show
The frequent turtle symbols in It: Welcome to Derry serve multiple purposes. They act as a secret signal to fans familiar with Stephen King’s deeper lore. They also introduce the idea that the fight against Pennywise is not just a local horror story but part of a much larger, cosmic struggle between creation and destruction.
The “lucky” turtle charm that saves Lilly shows that Maturin’s influence is already at work in Derry, offering protection to the children targeted by It. Whether Maturin will appear on-screen remains to be seen, but the foundational pieces for his involvement have clearly been laid. The turtles are a promise that even in a world of fear, a wiser and older power is watching.
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