You must be careful what you wish for.
The first theme in the novel Coraline is to be careful what you wish for. I think that this is one of the themes because at the beginning of the book, Coraline just wants to be loved and shown compassion. Her parents are not very loving towards her because they are always busy working. The other mother created the perfect world for Coraline because the other mother knew that it would attract Coraline, and the other mother just wanted something to love. "'We're here. We're ready to love you and play with you and feed you and make your life interesting" (61). Sadly, her plan worked. Coraline loved the other world and fell right into the other mother's trap. "'I'm glad you like it, because we'd like to think that this is your home. You can stay here for ever and always. If you want to" (45). When Coraline finally decides to return back to the normal world, the other mother has stolen her parents. This forces Coraline to go back to the other world to find her parents. "'They aren't going to come back, are they? Not under their own steam" (55). If Coraline doesn't find her parents, she'll be forced to sew on the shiny, black button eyes, and stay in the other world forever. She wished for too much and got put into a dreadfully horrible situation.
The first theme in the novel Coraline is to be careful what you wish for. I think that this is one of the themes because at the beginning of the book, Coraline just wants to be loved and shown compassion. Her parents are not very loving towards her because they are always busy working. The other mother created the perfect world for Coraline because the other mother knew that it would attract Coraline, and the other mother just wanted something to love. "'We're here. We're ready to love you and play with you and feed you and make your life interesting" (61). Sadly, her plan worked. Coraline loved the other world and fell right into the other mother's trap. "'I'm glad you like it, because we'd like to think that this is your home. You can stay here for ever and always. If you want to" (45). When Coraline finally decides to return back to the normal world, the other mother has stolen her parents. This forces Coraline to go back to the other world to find her parents. "'They aren't going to come back, are they? Not under their own steam" (55). If Coraline doesn't find her parents, she'll be forced to sew on the shiny, black button eyes, and stay in the other world forever. She wished for too much and got put into a dreadfully horrible situation.
Things aren't always as they seem.
The second theme in the novel Coraline is that things aren't always as they seem. I think that this is another one of the themes because this book shows a few different things that seem to be one things, but actually turn out to be the opposite. The other mother starts off closely resembling Coraline's real mother, "A woman stood in the kitchen with her back to Coraline. She looked a little like Coraline's mother" (27). However, towards the end of the book the other mother has transformed into a very scary creature. The other worlds also starts off being quite lovely, but as time progresses, it turns into a horrible place to be. "Outside, the world had become a formless swirling mist with no shapes or shadows behind it, while the house itself seemed to have twisted and stretched. It seemed to Coraline that it was crouching, and staring down at her, as if it were not really a house but only the idea of a house" (105). Coraline's parents are also examples of things that don't show their true colors. They act like they don't care, but they really do love Coraline with all of their hearts. They are just so busy with their work that they don't truly show her how much they care. The other world also starts off as a very charming and fun place. As time goes on, and Coraline begins to test the other mother, the other world starts to fall apart and become a very scary place.
The second theme in the novel Coraline is that things aren't always as they seem. I think that this is another one of the themes because this book shows a few different things that seem to be one things, but actually turn out to be the opposite. The other mother starts off closely resembling Coraline's real mother, "A woman stood in the kitchen with her back to Coraline. She looked a little like Coraline's mother" (27). However, towards the end of the book the other mother has transformed into a very scary creature. The other worlds also starts off being quite lovely, but as time progresses, it turns into a horrible place to be. "Outside, the world had become a formless swirling mist with no shapes or shadows behind it, while the house itself seemed to have twisted and stretched. It seemed to Coraline that it was crouching, and staring down at her, as if it were not really a house but only the idea of a house" (105). Coraline's parents are also examples of things that don't show their true colors. They act like they don't care, but they really do love Coraline with all of their hearts. They are just so busy with their work that they don't truly show her how much they care. The other world also starts off as a very charming and fun place. As time goes on, and Coraline begins to test the other mother, the other world starts to fall apart and become a very scary place.
Paul. Buttons in Box. Illustration. 24 May 2009. Coraline. R@R. Web. 4 June 2014.
The Evolution of the Other Mother. Illustration. 2012. The Weird and Wonderful World of Me. Tumblr. Web. 4 June 2014.
The Evolution of the Other Mother. Illustration. 2012. The Weird and Wonderful World of Me. Tumblr. Web. 4 June 2014.