This Latin phrase translates to “god from the machine” and refers to divine intervention and an unexpected resolution to a problem. Done well, it can also lend humor, suspense, or surprise to your work, any of which can benefit a story as a whole. Deus ex machina is an easy way to get your character out of a difficult situation-which may be necessary if you’ve backed yourself into a storytelling corner. Still, there are some benefits to the device. Those who decry its use tend to argue that it shows a lack of creativity on the part of the author or that it does an injustice to a complicated storyline by tying it up in a nice and overly simplified bow. What’s notable about deus ex machina (and what’s so controversial about it) is that it takes an unsolvable problem and makes it go away with an opportune solution. And sometimes it’s even more obtuse, such as when the story’s hero is facing imminent destruction but suddenly wakes up safe in bed and realizes that it was all just a bad dream. It might be a character, but it can just as likely be a suddenly remembered key piece of information or an abrupt sickness. The form that the deus ex machina takes can vary quite a bit depending on the story. This character is saved by a person, object, or event that appears suddenly and, in many cases, right at the moment when all hope is truly lost. A character is in a seemingly impossible-to-escape situation.Ģ.
There are two factors at the heart of a deus ex machina:ġ. How (and When) to Use Deus Ex Machina in Your Writing.Here’s what to know about this popular-and popularly debated- storytelling device, including a quick deus ex machina definition, well-known examples, and a few helpful tips for using it in your writing.
And the more you know about how it functions and what its purpose is, the better you can decide if it’s the way to go. Instead, it’s up to you to make your own decision regarding this polarizing device and whether it has a place in your work. You’ll find a lot of differing opinions on the utility of deus ex machina in creative writing, but you won’t find one overarching declaration on whether they’re good to use or not. When it comes to wrapping up a conflict, is a deus ex machina a thrilling conclusion or just lazy writing?
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