Chapter 10:

Inside of the old man's apartment, she hears his rats scutter and whisper creepy songs. It is now that Coraline realizes she is positive she wants to go home. All of the sudden, the old man falls apart into rats, literally. One of the large rats steals the last marble and runs away. Coraline tries to chase after it, but she falls and scrapes her knee. She feels discouraged and like a failure, but then the cat comes to the rescue, catching the marble for Coraline. Coraline hears one last voice telling her the other mother never plans on letting her leave. Despite this news, Coraline is determined to make it out. Coraline hints that she knows where her parents are, but does not tell us. She heads to her flat holding her cat and telling it that she will get them both home safely. 

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Chapter 11:

Coraline walks into her flat and tells her other mother that she has found all three souls. The other mother reaches for Coraline, but Coraline distracts her by telling her she knows where her parents are hidden. She tells her they are in the hallway between the two worlds. Her other mother opens the door to gloat and to prove Coraline wrong, but Coraline grabs the cat and throws it at the other mother’s head. She grabs the snowglobe and runs for the door with her cat. When she gets through the door is too heavy behind her to close it, but then five ghosts show up and help her shut the door. Coraline hears her real mother's voice in her head and it gives her strength. The other mother tries to stop them by sticking her right hand in the doorway, but they close the door on her. Coraline has never been so relieved in her life. Coraline tells the cat she is sorry for throwing him, but he forgives her. Coraline then goes to sleep after her scary adventure. 

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Analysis:

Coraline starts off walking up to the other old man’s flat, and tells herself “I’m not frightened” (Gaiman 115), just before entering, even though she is. When the old man falls apart into rats right in front of Coraline’s eyes, telling herself that she is not scared moments before may have saved her from running away or giving up. On top of this, the cat helping Coraline after she falls gives Coraline just the push she needs to succeed. Because Coraline has this new confidence that she found in this chapter, she comes to a realization at the perfect moment. She realizes where her parents are trapped. Her clarity of mind in this moment could be because she has almost fully developed as a character. She has faced her fears and learned to become more appreciative. The trick Coraline plays on her mother is the perfect trick, because it shows that, although the trick is immature since she is young, the other mother does not see it coming because of her intense need to gloat. Coraline’s ability to realize this is important, since it shows us that she now is noticing the differences between real love and selfish love. And then, all of the people she has helped along the way are there with her to repay her by closing the door. The rest of her strength comes from her real mother, not her other mother. “The button eyes represent Coraline’s final step into leaving her real life behind, however when it all comes down to it she finally realizes that she values the independence her parents help create" (Martinez 10).