After watching Obsession mention this and some googling of the fairytale comparisons in IT (side note thanks google ai for giving loads of shit i wasnt looking for thanks) it all really reminded me of the parallels of Hansel and Gretel in the story and the running theme in the book that regards to the sort of abuse Eddie and Beverly experience, they truly are Hansel and Gretel respectively
Eddie/Hansel being the one who is tricked into a locked stable(cage in some imagery and art)and who is smothered with love and attention all with the purpose of making him ready to consume, and Eddie takes it all because its all he can do.
And Beverly/Gretel who despite also being there, isn't just put in a cage and smothered, she's put to work around the witch's house, and made to put all this work into looking after a man, all the while aware of that they're both headed for the oven.
Even in the book, the major references to the idea of sweetness/saccharine/cloying and consumption of that sweetness is primarily Beverly and Eddie.
I think even more interesting details and comparisons crop up, like that it's Hansel who, first, has the idea of pebbles to take with them to lead them back home and then the bread. And also just like Eddies mother in the book, the witch has poor eyesight.
And that in the end, it's Gretel who defeats and pushes the witch into the oven, as opposed to both of them defeating their witch
