Previous
The Cat
Coraline’s mother is, like Coraline’s father, a busy and hardworking person who, at the start of the novel, seems to have had very little time for Coraline lately. Coraline’s mother keeps an intense focus on her work and on housekeeping, which leads her to seem more flighty and easily distracted about other aspects of her life—for example, she’s shown to be unable to keep fresh food in the kitchen, not realizing that the grocery shopping needs to be done until food is literally rotting on the shelves. Coraline’s mother seems invested in making sure that their family’s new home is kept in tip-top shape, in keeping up with her work, and in helping Coraline pick out sensible, practical clothes for the new school year—but Coraline misreads her mother’s intentions at every turn. By the end of the novel—after her frightening, miserable encounters with the deceptive other mother—Coraline comes to understand that her real mother honestly does want what’s best for her and loves her in a way that only a true mother ever could.
Coraline’s Mother/Mrs. Jones Quotes in Coraline
The Coraline quotes below are all either spoken by Coraline’s Mother/Mrs. Jones or refer to Coraline’s Mother/Mrs. Jones. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 8
Quotes
[The other mother] picked Coraline up, just as Coraline’s real mother had when Coraline was much younger, cradling the half-sleeping child as if she were a baby.
The other mother carried Coraline into the kitchen and put her down very gently upon the countertop.
Coraline struggled to wake herself up, conscious only for the moment of having been cuddled and loved, and wanting more of it, then realizing where she was and who she was with.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
“I think I like this game. But what kind of game shall it be? A riddle game? A test of knowledge or of skill?”
“An exploring game,” suggested Coraline. “A finding-things game.”
“And what is it you think you should be finding in this hide-and-go-seek game, Coraline Jones?”
Coraline hesitated. Then, “My parents,” said Coraline. “And the souls of the children behind the mirror.”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 11
Quotes
“Help me, please,” she said. “All of you.”
The other people in the corridor—three children, two adults—were somehow too insubstantial to touch the door. But their hands closed about hers, as she pulled on the big iron door handle, and suddenly she felt strong.
“Never let up, Miss! Hold strong! Hold strong!” whispered a voice in her mind.
“Pull, girl, pull!” whispered another.
And then a voice that sounded like her mother’s—her own mother, her real, wonderful, maddening, infuriating, glorious mother—just said, “Well done, Coraline,” and that was enough.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Coraline LitChart as a printable PDF.
Coraline’s Mother/Mrs. Jones Quotes in Coraline
The Coraline quotes below are all either spoken by Coraline’s Mother/Mrs. Jones or refer to Coraline’s Mother/Mrs. Jones. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 8
Quotes
[The other mother] picked Coraline up, just as Coraline’s real mother had when Coraline was much younger, cradling the half-sleeping child as if she were a baby.
The other mother carried Coraline into the kitchen and put her down very gently upon the countertop.
Coraline struggled to wake herself up, conscious only for the moment of having been cuddled and loved, and wanting more of it, then realizing where she was and who she was with.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
“I think I like this game. But what kind of game shall it be? A riddle game? A test of knowledge or of skill?”
“An exploring game,” suggested Coraline. “A finding-things game.”
“And what is it you think you should be finding in this hide-and-go-seek game, Coraline Jones?”
Coraline hesitated. Then, “My parents,” said Coraline. “And the souls of the children behind the mirror.”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 11
Quotes
“Help me, please,” she said. “All of you.”
The other people in the corridor—three children, two adults—were somehow too insubstantial to touch the door. But their hands closed about hers, as she pulled on the big iron door handle, and suddenly she felt strong.
“Never let up, Miss! Hold strong! Hold strong!” whispered a voice in her mind.
“Pull, girl, pull!” whispered another.
And then a voice that sounded like her mother’s—her own mother, her real, wonderful, maddening, infuriating, glorious mother—just said, “Well done, Coraline,” and that was enough.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
