Summary
In the world of theDark Towerseries, the level of world-building and the mythology that author Stephen King establishes are vast and ever-changing. There are supernatural beings, both known and unknown, roaming the multiverse that the world has established, and atits center lies the ever-standing Dark Tower. The story centers on Roland and his allies facing the full might of the Crimson King. However, they are but one small part of a much grander, longstanding battle between two opposing forces of the multiverse: The People of the White and the People of the Red.
A far more grand battle than simply good and evil, the People of the White and the People of the Red have been facing off against one another since the dawn of time, across multiple worlds. The complexities and nuances of each member of each side vary, but their goals are the same no matter what. The people of the White work to protect the Dark Tower, while the people of the Red work to see its demise.With the impending adaptation of Stephen King’sDark Towerseries by creator Mike Flanagan, it is crucial to know who the People of the White and the People of the Red are, and what motivates their actions.
The People of the White and the Red, Explained
According to the mythology established by Stephen King and further expanded upon in comic book adaptations and new stories, the multiverse the Dark Tower binds together began with a godlike being known as Gan. Gan rose from the primordial chaos known as the PRIM to weave together the physical multiverse, and bound them all together using the beams to connect via the Dark Tower. Gan became the spirit of the Dark Tower itself, and from there all reality began. From its inception, civilizations rose and fell after the PRIM receded and the Dark Tower remained, from the demonic hordes and the Great Old Ones toelder beings such as Maerylnand the Crimson Queen.
Yet the true nature of the People of the White began with the rise of Arthur Eld, whose knights and kingdom became the foundation for the kingdom of Gilead and the rise of the gunslingers later on. From Gilead, Roland Deschain, a descendant of Arthur Eld, grew up and became known throughout the multiverse as the last of the gunslingers. As a youth, Roland’s friends and allies, or his original ka-tet, were agents of the White, fighting against John Farson and eventually losing. Later, on his quest to find the Dark Tower, Roland founded a second ka-tet. Now, hisallies included such figures as the boy Jake Chambers, the recovering addict Eddie Dean, and the woman with dual personalities, Susannah. Their actions across the multiverse would also inspire others to take up arms.
Meanwhile, the foundation for the People of the Red beganwith the inception of the Crimson King, a being formed from the tryst between the Crimson Queen and Arthur Eld on his coronation day. The Crimson King’s ultimate motivation is to see the Dark Tower fall. This would allow death and destruction across the multiverse, while allowing the dark waters of the PRIM to unleash once again the hordes of monsters and demons that are trapped behind the protection of the Dark Tower itself. His servants range from the Man in Black and the Tick Tock Man, to low-level servants like the creatures known as Taheen and robotic humanoid soldiers known as Wolves. They all work with the singular goal of serving the Crimson King’s mad quest to destroy the Dark Tower. To do so, their main method is to gather people known as breakers to help smash the beams of energy holding up the Dark Tower to begin with.
The Legacy of the People of the White and the Red
The reach that both of these groups have is far more complex than either realizes. For a long time, Roland and his ka-tet feel alone in their mission to stop the Crimson King and his forces. However, it soon becomes apparent that their actions across the multiverse have consequences, including inspiring others to join their cause. In the world known as Keystone Earth, for instance, the actions of the group inspire two men to found a corporation known as the TET Corporation. This group helps fund a counter-agency to the agents of the Red, much like the shadow war between theAssassin and Templar sects inAssassin’s Creed.
The people of the Red, otherwise known as Warriors of the Scarlet Eye and Servants of the Outer Dark, have also built a vastnetwork upon the bones of the Great Old Onesand their powerful technology. Utilizing special doors created as doorways between other worlds and times, they have been able to travel anywhere they like. They abduct people as possible breakers and eliminate threats as they see fit, as they did inHearts of Atlantiswhen they came for Ted Brautigan, a powerful breaker.
The series begins as a simple battle of wills between the Gunslingerand the Man in Black. However, the war being waged is far grander in scale, personally for Roland Deschain and on a much more cosmic scale. The People of the White, led by Roland and his ka-tet, are the driving force behind protecting the Dark Tower, while the People of the Red work ruthlessly to destroy it, having succeeded in tearing down several beams already. When Stephen King’sDark Towerseries is adapted by Mike Flanagan, establishing these two powerful factions will be crucial to the backbone of this narrative.
