Coraline and the Mystery of Parallel Universes

Dragons, princesses and witches have been the main topics in children’s literature, but when it comes to magic, there is one theme in particular that has been spreading through fiction due to it’s puzzling quality: parallel universes.

Who hasn’t wondered how it could be to enter in a different dimension? Where you can be someone completely different from what you are right now, or maybe where you find better circumstances that your actual world cannot offer to you. This might sound like a harebrained idea that could only happen in fairy tales, but according to quantum physics, it is not that far from reality.

Actually, when scientists talk about the universe they refer to one that is observable to us, since they only know as far as the science had gone. However, there are some theories that suggest the existence of other universes which are called multiverses, yet, this theories have not been proved. The first one called 'Bubble Universes', explains that there are many parts of the universe that we cannot see such as black holes, because we live in the place that has the right laws of physics for us to survive, but if there are other life-forms out there, they could see other things from their own perspective. The second one says that our universe is just a tridimensional universe which exists within a superior one that has nine dimensions. This one is called: 'Membranes'. The last but not least is the theory of 'Many Worlds'. Quantum mechanics propose that within time, there are many possibilities and situations that exist simultaneously, but we are only living the possibility that we chose or that was supposed to happen.

In Coraline's story, Coraline enters in a little door which led her into the other world. This world appeared to be like the real one but better. It was prettier, she had more fun and her other parents really cared about her, or that was what she thought at the beginning. Then she finally realizes that the Beldam was not a loving mother but a monster who wanted to sew buttons on her eyes. This fictional multiverse seem to be like the theory of 'Many Worlds', because of the possibility to choose between her real parents or the ones with shiny buttons instead of eyes. Nevertheless, we must consider that the other world is not a reflection of the real one but a creation of the Beldam to trick Coraline. Taking this into account, the remaining theories are more suitable for this case. The other world could be another universe with different dimensions, or maybe the little door was the entrance of a black hole that was controlled by the monster.

No matter what, there's a fact that we cannot deny: even if parallel universes are nothing but a theory, fiction create some amazing worlds. Personally, I think that the existence of other universes is true. We live in such a complex reality and there's so much outside of our world that we cannot imagine the mystery of existence. Specially, I believe that the theory about possibilities is the closest one to us. We make choices every day and sometimes we wonder what would have happened if we did something different in the past and how our lives would be if we had taken that choice. There might exist other realities, other universes or even other creatures, like a tall skinny witch who wants to steal children's souls by sewing buttons in their eyes.

References:

Coraline Book: Gaiman, N. (2002). Coraline. United Kingdom: Harper Collins.

Coraline movie: Coraline (2009), by Henry Selick.

Web article: Bryan Nelson. (2014). Parallel worlds exist and interact with our world, say physicists . November 6, 2014, Mother nature network. Web site: http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/research-innovations/stories/parallel-worlds-exist-and-interact-with-our-world-say

Video: http://youtu.be/Ywn2Lz5zmYg