Welcome to this week’s installment of Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week, wherein we shine a spotlight on strong women who inspire us. Each week, we will highlight a favorite female character or creator of geeky media. These ladies are a prime example of female empowerment and how crucial it is for young girls to have said example to follow.
DISCLAIMER: The following is based on the most current version of Stephen King‘s It. It contains some spoilers for the movies It and It: Chapter Two. If you haven’t see the films, you can purchase It on Amazon Prime. It: Chapter Two is currently playing in theaters.
Beverly Marsh
Fast Facts:
Beverly Marsh is the bravest girl in Derry. The story features two versions of Beverly. The younger version is played by Sophia Lillis in 2017’s It and 2019’s It: Chapter Two. And the adult version played by Jessica Chastain in 2019’s It: Chapter Two. Both are kind, confident, and strong. Fear is a strong emotion and Beverly isn’t one to let it control her.
Beverly is the only female member of the Losers Club. She shares a deep connection with each of the boys in the club. They have faced their fears together and won. She genuinely cares for each of them and would put their safety above her own. The Losers Club is the only safe space Beverly has and she will do anything to protect it.
The Real Deal:
Everyone is scared of something. For Beverly, her fears stem from her home life and the treatment she received from her father. He blamed Beverly for her mother’s death, yet is attracted to his own daughter because of her resemblance to her mother. Beverly tries to avoid him and not upset him at the same time. His lingering gazes make her insecure about her femininity and afraid of what he might do to her. Beverly is a fighter though and finds a way out of this abusive house.
Pennywise the Clown (Bill Skarsgård) feeds on fear. So he uses Beverly’s fears to weaken her, making her one of his targets. The Losers Club gives her strength to stand up to the clown and to her father. As an adult, the past haunts Beverly. Her father is gone, but she remembers being afraid of him, of how he looked at her, and how that made her feel. Her insecurities are what led her to an abusive marriage. Beverly found the courage to leave that marriage when Mike (Isaiah Mustafa) called her home. Reuniting with the Losers Club helped her to remember her strength to overcome her fears.
Why Does She Matter:
Beverly is more than a love interest for Bill (Jaeden Martell) and Ben (Jeremy Ray Taylor). She is a brave warrior ready to do battle with anyone who threatens her posse. She was the first to throw a rock at Henry Bowers (Nicholas Hamilton) to save Mike (Chosen Jacobs). The first to take a shot at Pennywise, before he could hurt Richie (Finn Wolfhard) and Eddie (Jack Dylan Grazer). And though she was taken by Pennywise, she showed no fear, forcing him to use his supernatural powers to subdue her.
As an adult, Beverly has a hard time remembering what she went through with the boys. She remembers the fear though. The closer the Losers Club gets to Pennywise, the more they remember. Beverly takes charge of her fears and defeats Pennywise again. And in the process finds the love she deserves from the one person who never forgot about her…Ben (Jay Ryan).
Beverly is like us all because of her insecurities. Even in the face of death, she finds a way to fight back. There is an internal struggle with feeling like you’re good enough or that you deserve the good things in life. Beverly fought herself at times, but always found the strength to love herself enough to accept the good life. So be like Beverly. Stand tall and face your fears!
RELATED: Movie Review – IT CHAPTER TWO
News Editor, Senior Contributor, and Press Editor. Coordinate breaking news, trailers and press releases. I also contribute reviews, recaps and interviews. Creator of the Indigenerd Wire, a column dedicated to the Indigenous creatives in pop culture.
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