Coraline by Neil Gaiman

This week we delve into contemporary urban fantasy, which is the combination of fantasy and the mundane. With this genre, it is common that the unreal experiences help us to understand reality. Doppleganger is also a very common archetype in urban fantasy.

            Coraline by Neil Gaiman is a perfect and popular example of this genre. Coraline is a normal young girl who is moving into a new house with her family. Pretty ordinary so far. Then something strange happens: she finds a doll that looks exactly like her. The doll is like a preliminary to the Other World. Everything is still normal; Coraline accepts the doll’s odd appearance and takes it around with her while she meets her odd and interesting neighbors. The doll also acts as Coraline’s doppleganger, which we see as she realize the Beldam’s motives later in the story. We come to understand that, even though the doll looks like her, it is leading her to her doom and right into evil hands.

            Coraline can be compared to a dream; or nightmare. Everything starts out normal and boring, then turns fantastical and fun. Coraline even believes the Other World is a dream at first. Tension builds in Coraline when the Other Mother presents the buttons to be sewn into Colaline’s eyes, which is pretty horrific. Coraline thinks she escapes but is thrown back into the sprawl and that’s when it really gets scary. Like a bad dream, the anxiety builds until it is terrifying. Luckily, she is finally able to beat the Beldam by trapping her behind the door and her disembodied evil hand down a deep well.  All is well in her world and all is back to normal. She is finally bonding with her parents and she is happier and is a better person all around. She is more patient and polite, loving and understanding towards her busy parents. The Other World and its adventures helped her realize how important her parents are to her and that she could put others before herself, even if it put her in danger.