Spatial Dimensions and Their Inhabitants as Reflections of the Other Mother in Neil Gaiman's Coraline

Children’s literature is a genre whose texts often feature the mother-child relationship as central, for mothers are undeniably central figures in the lives of children. This paper examines the character of the Other Mother in Neil Gaiman’s Coraline through the lens of Carl Jung’s theory of archetypes, paying particular attention to the archetype of the mother and its dual nature: nurturing and terrible. The Other Mother, also known as the Beldam, represents both extremes, initially embodying a loving maternal figure before revealing her more sinister and controlling nature. Drawing on Jungian theory and a close reading of the novel’s diegetic place and characters, the paper argues that the Other World and all of the Other Characters within it exist merely as extensions of the Other Mother and thereby undergo the same physical and behavioural transformation she does. Initially, the Other World embodies the solicitous mother archetype, offering Coraline the affectionate environment she longs for. However, when the Beldam grows angry, a transformation begins: the Other Characters turn into monstrous creatures and the Other World becomes a nightmarish reflection of the terrible mother archetype. Regarding the structure of the analysis, various spatial dimensions within the Other World and the Other Characters within each location will be analysed and contrasted with the Beldam’s personal experience.