In his seminal work The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Joseph Campbell identified the typical elements of the hero’s journey. In the novel Coraline, by Neil Gaiman there consists of many elements of what Campbell was referring too. In short, Coraline consisted a hero, a call to adventure, supernatural aid, a transformation of the main character, trials and tribulations for the main character, a revelation, atonement, and the return. All of these things make up the hero’s journey.
The following elements can be identified in Coraline. Coraline starts out like an average 12 year old girl in Europe. She just recently moved into a new flat with her parents. Later in the novel, Coraline ends up having a cup of tea with Ms Spink and Ms. Forcible, she is then given a magical stone as well as having her fortune read to her. (supernatural aid + calling to adventure p23, p25) Coraline then decides to go through the door that leads to no where. She discovers a world that is very much like her own, but slightly different. Along her journey, she runs into a black cat that can talk (a helper and mentor p43) while in the other world. After Coraline has spent some time in the closet, she is then determined to save her parents along with the other children that were there who have died. (transformation, death and rebirth p97-100) Coraline then decides to make a bet with the other mother about saving her parents as well as the other three children that are locked up in the mirror/closet. (atonement) Coraline ends up saving the children, her parents, as well as the cat who that ended up helping her and brings them back home. (the return p157-162)
As readers, the hero’s journey helps us to understand novels better. I think if a perfect Hero were created, it might not be able to catch the eye of the reader or the readers interest. In a specific part in Coraline, Coraline is there in the closet sitting down, I think it’s at this point it becomes obvious that in certain cases or in some way or another she has failed in saving her parents. People try and do things in life and sometimes it doesn’t always works out. I think it’s ok to fail as long as you put some effort into what ever it is that you’re doing and this is why it is part of the hero’s journey, it’s ok to fail.
I think the reason why us as readers should care about the hero’s journey is that it helps people understand, mature, and evolve into a better person or at least a better human being. It helps build morals for others. In the beginning of Coraline, Coraline was a little annoying brat, she always wanted attention or to be entertained. At the end of the novel, she ends up becoming a completely different person. She also comes to the realisation of what she has and in turn ends up becoming grateful for having them.
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