Coraline Characters

Coraline Jones is the novel’s protagonist and namesake. An intrepid, clever girl who is described as being small for her age, Coraline is a devoted explorer who loves going on long walks and watching nature… read analysis of Coraline Jones

Coraline’s other mother is an evil shapeshifting entity and the novel’s main antagonist. She is sometimes referred to by the trio of lost children she keeps captive as “the beldam,” another word for witch… read analysis of The Other Mother

Upon moving into her new home, Coraline explores the grounds surrounding it and comes upon a large, “haughty”-looking black cat. The cat sees Coraline, but avoids her and runs away from her, not wishing to… read analysis of 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… read analysis of Coraline’s Mother/Mrs. Jones

Coraline’s other father is the version of her real father who exists in the other mother’s realm. Coraline’s other father is, at first, a sunnier, warmer version of her own father whose presence… read analysis of The Other Father

Miss Spink is one of Coraline’s neighbors. She lives in another flat in Coraline’s house with Miss Forcible. The two women once “trod the boards” in the big city as famous actresses, but… read analysis of Miss April Spink

Miss Forcible is one of Coraline’s neighbors. She is Miss Spink’s best friend and roommate (or perhaps partner, though the novel never delves into the specifics of their relationship.) The two women both… read analysis of Miss Miriam Forcible

The other Miss Spink is the other mother’s approximation of the real Miss Spink. Miss Spink and Miss Forcible have both been transformed, apparently, into beautiful young women who perform an elaborate, never-ending… read analysis of The Other Miss April Spink

The other Miss Forcible is the other mother’s version of Miss Forcible. Like the other Miss Spink, the other Miss Forcible is, at first glance, a beautiful young woman who is engaged… read analysis of The Other Miss Miriam Forcible

This is an eccentric old man who lives upstairs from Coraline and her family. The crazy old man refers to Coraline as “Caroline,” even when she corrects him—he is too busy preparing his mouse circus… read analysis of The Crazy Old Man Upstairs/Mr. Bobo

The other crazy old man upstairs is an alternate-universe approximation of the “real” crazy old man upstairs—but, as with everything in the other mother’s world, her version of the man has been twisted… read analysis of The Other Crazy Old Man Upstairs

The three lost children have been trapped in the other mother’s world for a long time—centuries, in some cases. The trio consists of a boy, a tall girl, and a small girl. While the children… read analysis of The Lost Children

The rats are a creepy, vaguely malevolent presence throughout Coraline who can seemingly traverse the barrier between the “real” world and the other mother’s world with ease. Shortly after moving into her new house… read analysis of The Rats