A short story is the ultimate close-up magic trick -- a couple of thousand words to take you around the universe or break your heart.
Neil GaimanRead
How do I know you'll keep your word?" asked Coraline. "I swear it," said the other mother. "I swear it on my own mother's grave." "Does she have a grave?" asked Coraline. "Oh yes," said the other mother. "I put her in there myself. And when I found her trying to crawl out, I put her back.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Trust can be a manipulative tool used to control others, often with dark motives.
This quote from Neil Gaiman's 'Coraline' encapsulates the theme of deceit and manipulation in relationships, particularly through the lens of trust. The other mother's statement about swearing on her own mother's grave suggests a deep level of dishonesty, revealing that the concept of loyalty and truth can be twisted by malevolent desires, ultimately putting Coraline's safety and autonomy at risk. It highlights how trust can be weaponized and used to ensnare individuals in a web of lies.
Themes
TrustManipulationDeceitRelationshipsLoyalty
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on trust in relationships, you might quote this to illustrate the potential for betrayal.
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Nothing’s changed. You’ll go home. You’ll be bored. You’ll be ignored. No one will listen to you, really listen to you. You’re too clever and too quiet for them to understand. They don’t even get your name right.
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I like the stars. It's the illusion of permanence, I think. I mean, they're always flaring up and caving in and going out. But from here, I can pretend...I can pretend that things last. I can pretend that lives last longer than moments. Gods come, and gods go. Mortals flicker and flash and fade. Worlds don't last; and stars and galaxies are transient, fleeting things that twinkle like fireflies and vanish into cold and dust. But I can pretend.
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