Female Gothic and The Reimagining of Motherhood: A Coraline(s) Analysis

Abstract

This paper aims to explore the motherhood gender issue presented in Coraline's novel by Neil Gaiman (2002) and its film adaptation, directed by Henry Selick (2009). It primarily revolves around the portrayal of motherhood in the works, along with the portrayal of characters, family issues, and gender roles. The paper looks up into the portrayal of motherhood in both novel and film adaption, examining how the horror of Female Gothic and fantasy elements are used to reimagine motherhood and unsettle traditional gender roles. The paper will take a feminist literary criticism approach and make use of essential theoretical frameworks such feminist motherhood theory and the Female Gothic. Through the analysis of the two versions of Coraline, I found the portrayal of motherhood through narrative and visual. The findings of the research reveal that both the Coraline book and the movie, through the media's elements, challenge stereotypes and ideas of maternal sacrifice and compassion by portraying motherhood as a complex experience. Coraline offers perspective on Female Gothic and motherhood that confronts traditional gender expectations and contributes to a broader view about the representation of motherhood in popular culture.