Coraline is a story about a little girl, allusions, and entrapment. Coraline (Dakota Fanning) goes into another world. After finding this world, she commits the seven deadly sins. This is another reason she almost gets stuck in the other world.
Gluttony: One of the first things Coraline does in the other world is eat. Her “other mother” (Teri Hatcher) makes an extravagant dinner, even though in the real world her dad is the one making the terrible dinners her family eats. She wants a shake and gets cake and anything else she wants. Nothing is denied her.
Lust: The second time she goes to the other world she is introduced to her “other father’s” (John Hodgman) garden. Coraline has expressed previously in the movie that she enjoys gardening but her real parents do not seem to have a lot of interest past writing about gardening. Therefore, she lusts after her other father’s garden and his love for gardening.
Greed: When in the real world, Coraline and her mother (Teri Hatcher) go shopping for school uniforms and Coraline wants a pair of orange gloves. However, her mother says no. Coraline retort, “My other mother would get them.” She wants what she can’t have because her other mother gives her everything. She also wants to stay in the other world always, until she finds out the price.
Wrath: After she finds out her real mom has hidden the key, Coraline gets really angry because she likes the other world. She does not like her real mother trying to control her decisions.
Envy: She was jealous of the other world and its perfection. She wanted to stay there instead of returning to the real world after falling asleep.
Pride: The other world Coraline wants to be in represents her absolutely. She desires a world where she is the center of attention. All things (the garden, the circus, the trapeze act, and food) are designed to appeal to Coraline’s interests.
Sloth: Coraline was lazy in that she does not want to try to make things work with her real family. The other world is easy. It is already catered to her wants and needs. Why should she work to make the real world work for her when the other one is already made?
If you really like Coraline, there is an interesting, yet confusing, blog about how the movie plays with and makes the audience question the real world. What is real?
There is also a blog about how this story represents religion. If you’re interested, click here.
See you next time!