Analyse af Neil Gaimans roman 'Coraline'

“Coraline” is a fictional novel written and released by Neil Gaiman in 2002. The novel revolves around the young protagonist, Coraline Jones. Coraline is a smart, intrepid, and curious soul. She has a vivid imagination and a strong desire for exploring. “I'm an explorer," said Coraline” (s. 5). Her desire for exploring is a product of her curiosity - A driving element for Coraline throughout the story. Coraline is an only child who lives alongside her workaholic parents who fails to indulge her sudden whims. She is often lonely, neglected, and left with a feeling of boredom which induces her adventurous desire for exploring.

The absences of her real parents are set into perspective as she is met by the other parents in the other world, who lavishes her with love and appreciation. Despite getting served with her needs, Coraline declines; she is smart, she knows better. Coraline also refuses to let the other mother sew on her button eyes, a factor that would ensure her endless love and affection. This demonstrates Coraline’s loyalty towards her parents.

As a crippling desire for exploring the outside of the new flat creeps up on the young Coraline Jones, she is handed a pencil by her father, who encourages her to explore the apartment. "Then explore the flat," suggested her father. "Look—here's a piece of paper and a pen. Count all the doors and windows. List everything blue. Mount an expedition to discover the hot-water tank." (s. 3) In the process of listing her observations, she is lead to the drawing-room where she later in the novel is exposed to the entranceway to the other world. At first glance, the other world seems to have everything that Coraline has been craving. “There were all sorts of remarkable things in there she'd never seen before” (s. 10) Alongside a furnished home and a blooming garden, she is met by the other parents who are quick to fill in the spots that her real parent hasn’t covered well. She is witness to parental affection, a factor that later is revealed to be a persuasive way of keeping Coraline in the other world. A trick Coraline is quick to discover. Another remarkable difference is found in the other parent’s physical appearance. As Coraline steps into the kitchen of her other home, she is met by who she thinks is her real mother. But something about her physical appearance is off, “Only her skin was white as paper. Only she was taller and thinner. Only her fingers were too long, and they never stopped moving, and her dark-red fingernails were curved and sharp.” (s. 9). As the other mother turns around to greet her daughter, Coraline is faced with a remarkable difference; button eyes. The button eyes appear on every living creature in the other world and function as an object that ties one’s soul to the other world.