It

Adrian Mellon, a young gay man, is brutally attacked by homophobic youths and thrown off a bridge, where he is then murdered by It in its Pennywise form. Additionally, while not explicitly stated in the book by the author's original intent, Richie Tozier's deep bond and emotional distress over Eddie Kaspbrak's death, coupled with the director's later interpretation for film adaptations, suggests a potential underlying gay identity for Richie, which Stephen King acknowledged was a valid interpretation of the character.

The book opens with the extremely graphic murder of six-year-old Georgie Denbrough, whose arm is ripped off by Pennywise while he tries to retrieve his paper boat, leaving him to bleed to death in the storm drain. Another instance of severe violence is the horrific death of Patrick Hockstetter, who is attacked and consumed by a swarm of flying leeches after being lured by It, with his body later found as a desiccated husk.

One of the most controversial scenes involves the young members of the Losers' Club engaging in a sexual act with Beverly Marsh in the sewers, described by some as a 'shamanistic ritual' intended to bond them together to defeat It. The novel also details Beverly Marsh's adult life, where she is married to an extremely abusive man, Tom Rogan, who physically and emotionally assaults her.

Richie Tozier, known as 'Mouth of the South,' is particularly prone to using foul language and profanity throughout the book, often getting him into trouble and earning him the nickname 'Beep-beep, Richie' from his friends. The Losers' Club members frequently swear, especially when confronting It or dealing with the traumatic events, such as Bill Denbrough's internal monologue and dialogue containing expletives in moments of fear or anger.

It is an ancient, trans-dimensional entity from the Macroverse that feeds on fear and can transform into victims' worst nightmares, embodying a powerful occult presence. The Losers' Club ultimately confronts It through the 'Ritual of Chüd,' a psychic battle where they enter It's mind, utilizing belief and imagination as their weapons against its supernatural abilities.

Henry Bowers' father, Butch Bowers, is portrayed as an alcoholic and abusive police officer. Furthermore, Stephen King himself has openly discussed writing during a period of heavy drinking and cocaine use, which some fans speculate influenced the intense and sometimes surreal nature of his work, including 'It.'

Pennywise the Dancing Clown, It's primary manifestation, is inherently terrifying, but the creature also transforms into the Losers' deepest fears, such as a rotting leper for Eddie Kaspbrak or a mummy for Ben Hanscom, creating extreme fright. The intense psychological horror also manifests in the apathy and complicity of the adult residents of Derry, who often ignore or forget the horrific events, creating an oppressive atmosphere of unspoken terror.

The children of the Losers' Club frequently show disdain and talk back to adults, particularly when they feel unheard or unprotected by the grown-ups of Derry, who are oblivious to the horrors of It. Henry Bowers and his gang represent a more malicious form of disrespect and rebellion, frequently bullying the Losers and other children, and openly defying authority without significant consequences due to the town's underlying evil influence.

The narrative does not feature any Christian characters using faith or prayer to combat It, nor does it portray religious figures in a positive or effective light against the evil. The primary 'defense' against It comes from the children's belief in each other and their collective imagination, rather than established religious doctrines. The cosmic evil of It exists outside of typical religious understanding.