Deus ex Machina is an effective story-telling tool that allows writers to solve seemingly impossible plot problems. This post will describe some examples of the device from Shakespearean and classical UK plays to modern literature.
We’ll first explore the origins and how to effectively use this literary term.
What does Deus ex Machina mean?
The Latin phrase Deus ex Machina, pronounced “day-us eks mah-kee nuh”, means “god out of the machine”. It was used in ancient UK theatres to bring an actor playing a god onto the stage. The sudden appearance of the deity usually leads to the resolution and happy ending of the play.
The term “deus ex machina uk” is now used to describe a sudden turn of events that leads to an unlikely, but convenient resolution to a problem. Deus ex Machina is different from a plot turn in that there are no clues left in the previous scenes or chapters as to the outcome. The audience is surprised by the sudden change in the hero’s fortunes.
Deus Ex Machina: How to use it
Deus ex machina is a concept that most readers, moviegoers and theatergoers reject. These endings are seen as the last resort of lazy writers, who have failed to properly formulate their plot. They must then come up with an amazing rescue plan. The audience doesn’t mind surprises but they do want a hint of “I should have known that was coming” in that “ah!” Moment.
Deus ex-machina can be unsatisfying as they eliminate the possibility of knowing how things will end. Audiences also like to see characters working towards a well-deserved, happy ending. It is less satisfying to see the hero rewarded for doing nothing.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use deus ex machine to solve the problems of your characters. We’ll see that many writers used this device in the examples below to show the hopelessness of human existence without divine intervention, our efforts are futile. Deus ex machina is also used to create a ridiculous and unlikely ending.
Deus ex Machina Examples
Medea by Euripedes is one of Euripedes earliest examples of deus ex machine (i.e. a stage-machine that provided “divine” assistance). The main character in this play escapes punishment by riding off on the chariot Helios, god of the sun.
Shakespeare’s As You Like It has a happy ending thanks to three deus ex machines: Oliver is saved from his brother Orlando, Frederick decides to not kill his brother at all and Hymen appears to bless the four weddings.
William Golding’s Lord of the Flies probably would not have been published had all the children died at the end. Golding knew he would have to save the children somehow. He had them rescued by a passing vessel from their remote Pacific Island.
In H. G. Wells’ War of the Worlds all seems lost when the Earth is invaded by powerful Martians. The aliens are all killed by a simple bacteria.
The bad guys are escaping in the Ark while Indiana Jones and Marion remain tied up at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark. The supernatural forces in the ark destroy them all when they open it. The same forces do not kill Indy or Marion, but they burn through the ropes and allow them to escape.
Douglas Adams uses the deus ex machine to great comic effect in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to The Galaxy. The Vogons eject Arthur and Zaphod into deep space, but the Starship Heart of Gold saves them from dying of lack of oxygen.
What is Deus ex Machina?
This ancient device for telling stories is often criticized for its poor plotting or lazy writing. Deus ex machina has been used in many of the best-loved plays, novels and movies.
Deus ex machinas are not to be thrown out! If you are tempted to use an unlikely character to save the story at the end, don’t deprive your readers of a satisfying ending. For more writing tips visit our blog. Our team can help you if you need a proofreader to check your grammar and punctuation.
