67 pages • 2 hours read
Stephen KingIt
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1986A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
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Predestination
At many points in the novel, characters have a sense that they are being drawn together for a specific purpose. It is obvious to them that Bradley is not a member of their group, even before their group is officially formed. Their instincts are constantly telling them that they are together for a reason, as if they are being directed. When Bill is in the void and feels the presence of the Other, he understands that the Other was the guiding force in their lives, using them to fight It (and evil). As long as It exists, their fates are already determined by the Other, and by the voice of the Turtle. Once they are able to forget at the end, there is a sense that they will now be able to live autonomously and choose their own fates.
The Power of Friendship
When the members of the Losers’ Club are alone, they are vulnerable to melancholy and bullies. Together, even in pairs, they are able to fight off Henry Bowers and the other bullies, challenge It, save Eddie from an asthma attack, and more. It is friendship that allows Eddie to stand up to his mother, and friendship that brings them to clean Beverly’s bathroom with her. But in the case of the seven main characters, their friendship also results in a tangible power that allows them to fight evil. Their circle is a source of good, as shown by the weakening of their power when Stanley dies. Those children who are shown to die in It are always alone, isolated, and vulnerable.
Childhood Versus Adulthood
Children are shown to be creatures of faith. Monsters can exist for children in the novel because children believe in monsters. As adults, the suggestion of a monster may inspire scorn or disbelief. The divide between children and adults is shown most clearly in Beverly’s bathroom. Her father cannot see the blood that covers the walls and floor, but her friends can. They expect to believe her when she tells them what they will see. Children are also more loyal in the story. Adults such as Mr. Ross will see bullies like Henry menacing Beverly but go inside without helping. They are not always indifferent, but they are never useful or loyal. The adults that the seven become are a product of the good children they were. Terrible kids like Henry become terrible adults.
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By Stephen King
