I think it's safe to say the book and movie adaptation of Coraline by Neil Gaiman left us with more than just chills down our spines. But I have noticed a recurring theme, in one scene in particular, that knits the entire story together that I haven't seen mentioned before. The symbolism of eyes is a theme addressed on multiple occasions in less than subtle ways throughout both the writing and the screenplay. Now, many have associated this portrayal with buttons, or rather the fear of them: koumpounophobia. And while this may be true, the symbolism of eyes (or the obsession, rather) cannot be dismissed and is a pivotal part of the story telling. But what about the witchcraft?
The first symbolism I noticed was through the introduction of the characters. Through Wybie, especially. Although the character was not in the books, the movie made an interesting point to establish the trio: Coraline, Wybie, and the cat (who some theorize is actually called 'No Name'). Look closely at how these three characters tilt their heads as if to say, "I see you". This level of understanding and empathizing with each other is what builds such strong bonds that ultimately helps Coraline defeat the antagonist: the Other Mother.
Let's contrast this with the introduction of the Other Mother. She is portrayed first by innocently tapping her button eyes to prove to Coraline there was nothing to be afraid of.
However, this soon evolves into more sinister gestures later on that turn from innocent into menacing and even threatening. Notice also that the hands the Other Mother uses switch. In the first scene, she makes no promises, no binding contracts through use of the left hand. But in the later scene, she is making a deal with Coraline (a contract, if you will) intending to trap her, so she uses the right hand.
But wait! It's gets creepier. Other symbolism verges to the darker side (Satanic, almost) as the Other Mother covers Coraline's eyes with boney hands.
Not much is known of the Other Mother's backstory, but it is inferred through context clues that she is a witch of some sort. She is referred to as the "Beldame", though some believe her roots may be more ancient and powerful than that. All that is known is that the Other Mother spies on children through use of a hand-crafted doll, deceives them, gains their trust, and feeds on their souls to keep herself alive, all while stealing their eyes. All of this is learned through the Ghost Children before the Other Wybie helps her escape, but not without a price.
Now for the doll. The doll is important in the way that it functions as the Other Mother's eyes. The Ghost Children tell Coraline, "She spied on our lives through the little dolls eyes..." So Coraline destroys it.
As the story progresses, Coraline starts to realize the dangers and lies of the Other World and this awareness is what breaks the illusion of grandeur. Of course, she doesn't accomplish this on her own and in fact needs help from others. Mostly through the cat and the Ghost Children, but also through the neighbors, notably Mrs. Spink and Forcible. They give Coraline a "looking stone" that doesn't work in the Real World. The only hint they give Coraline in the book is that it "makes the unseen seen."
Once Coraline realizes the Other Mother has stolen her parents, she returns to the Other World where the Other Mother has taken her true form as the Beldame and intends to use the looking stone to find her parents and help save the Ghost Children. Coraline makes a deal with the Other Mother that if she could find the Ghost Eyes and her parents, the Other Mother would be forced to let her and everyone else go. And if she fails, she will meet the same cruel fate. Coraline uses the looking stone to identify the Ghost Eyes. This is where the story hones in on the central theme. Before Coraline can find her parents, the Beldame destroys the looking stone, making Coraline's task even harder.
Doesn't this look familiar? There is a parallel here. As Coraline destroyed the doll (the tool that helped the Beldame see), so does the Other Mother destroy Coraline's looking stone (a tool that helped Coraline see the truth). This scene is especially cruel, considering Coraline already believed prior that she had failed. This scene is clear on its meaning: an eye for an eye. By burning the tools, each character is getting their revenge. The Beldame intended to take Coraline's eyes anyways, so this metaphor becomes exceedingly literal... and bone chilling.
In the resolution, Coraline receives the last message from the Ghost Eye and makes a plan to trick the Beldame into coughing up the only key and opening the door. With the help of the cat, she finds her parents in the snow globe and runs away to the Real World where the story ends by Coraline destroying the Beldame's hand and disposing of the key down the well.
My theory is this: there must be some element of revenge in the Beldame's backstory. Through witchcraft, the use of stealing eyes is robbing them of truth. The Beldame herself does not have eyes, so she must be using children to regain what she has lost. There is a saying that "Eyes are the windows to the soul". It is symbolic of clouding the moral judgement, making deceit the sole method of this specific type of witchcraft. Especially through the interaction that Coraline and the Beldame have of burning the instruments in which they deceive each other out of revenge.
So what do you think? Are eyes the instrument that the Beldame uses to corrupt her victims and fuel her immortality? Is revenge part of the witchcraft that accomplishes this goal?
