WHAT IS DEUS EX MACHINA?

Deus Ex Machina is a Latin term meaning “god from the machine” and is a storytelling device in which an improbable, unexpected or seemingly impossible event is used to resolve a difficult or seemingly hopeless situation in a story. In other words, it refers to an outside force or character suddenly intervening to save the day or solve the problem, often in a contrived or artificial manner.

Deus Ex Machina often gets a bad rap for being a sign of weak storytelling or lazy writing, in that it can undermine the dramatic tension and believability of the story. Instead of having the characters find a solution to the problem through their own actions, the writer uses an external intervention that is not grounded in the logic or rules of the story’s world. Deus Ex Machina can have positive features when used skillfully and intentionally. Here are a few:

1. Surprise and Shock: Deus Ex Machina can add an unexpected twist to the story, surprising the audience and keeping them on their toes. This sudden turn of events can make the story more memorable.
2. Resolution of Complex Plots: In some cases, the plot may become so complex and intertwined that resolving all loose ends naturally is nearly impossible. Deus Ex Machina can provide a clean way out, tying up the story neatly.
3. Humor: In comedic works, Deus Ex Machina can be used deliberately for its absurdity, contributing to the humor of the piece. The reveal of Alan’s genius level Blackjack and card counting abilities in the “The Hangover” is one such example.
4. Hope and Optimism: Deus Ex Machina often brings a positive resolution out of nowhere when all seems lost, emphasizing themes of hope, faith, and optimism.
5. Symbolism and Allegory: In some cases, Deus Ex Machina can be used to deliver a symbolic or allegorical message. For instance, in ancient Greek plays, gods were often introduced to resolve the plot, which might have been intended to convey the idea of divine intervention in human affairs.
6. Breaking the Fourth Wall: Sometimes, Deus Ex Machina can be used as a way to acknowledge the artificiality of the story, breaking the fourth wall and engaging the audience in a new way.

In the 10 examples of Deus Ex Machina below think about how these interventions can be seen as a way for the writer to avoid the difficult task of resolving the conflict through the characters’ own actions and decisions:

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003): The giant eagles rescue Frodo and Sam from Mount Doom.
2. Signs (2002): The aliens are discovered to be harmed by water, which allows the family to defend themselves.
3. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951): Klaatu, after being fatally shot, is resurrected by his robot Gort.
4. Toy Story 3 (2010): The toys, about to be incinerated, are saved by a giant claw operated by the aliens.
5. Jurassic Park (1993): The T-Rex, which was previously a threat, saves the main characters from the Velociraptors.
6. The Fifth Element (1997): Leeloo, the fifth element, activates the weapon to destroy the Great Evil.
7. Gravity (2013): Ryan Stone is about to give up when she hallucinates a visit from her deceased crewmate, giving her the idea to use the landing thrusters to return to Earth.
8. Independence Day (1996): A computer virus is used to disable the alien invaders’ shields, despite the highly unlikely compatibility of human and alien technology.
9. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005): Harry is saved from Voldemort by the spirits that emerge from the latter’s wand due to the “Priori Incantatem” effect.
10. The Matrix Revolutions (2003): Neo makes a deal with the Machine City’s leader (literally called Deus Ex Machina), who agrees to Neo’s plan.

Some films can even multiple Deus Ex Machinas (Dei Ex Machina?) In the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz,” the primary example of Deus Ex Machina is the revelation that Dorothy’s ruby slippers have the power to return her to Kansas. This information is suddenly provided by Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, after Dorothy and her companions have gone through significant trials and tribulations. This resolution isn’t hinted at earlier in the story, and it solves the main conflict in a quick and unexpected way.

Another example of Deus Ex Machina in “The Wizard of Oz” comes when Dorothy “accidentally” kills the Wicked Witch of the West by throwing a bucket of water on her, not knowing that water would cause the witch to melt. This is a bit more of a stretch as an example, as the witch’s vulnerability to water isn’t established earlier in the story, but it does serve to abruptly resolve a major conflict in an unexpected way.

The Wizard himself can be seen as a Deus Ex Machina. The characters believe he has the power to grant their wishes, and they go through many trials to reach him. But when they do, they find out he’s an ordinary man using tricks to seem powerful. The Wizard then grants their wishes not through magic, but by providing perspective and acknowledging the qualities they’ve shown all along (except for Dorothy, whose problem is solved by Glinda as noted above). This twist can be seen as a Deus Ex Machina because it abruptly resolves each character’s personal conflict in an unexpected manner.

Lastly there is a Deus Ex Machina at the conclusion of “The Wizard of OZ” when Dorthy wakes up back on in Kansas, surrounded by family and farmhands and an inside a still in-tact house.  Leaving the audience to wonder if the adventure they just watched actually happened or was just a dream.

All in all, Deus Ex Machina is a storytelling device that should be used with caution, as it can be seen as a weak or unsatisfying resolution to a story’s conflict. Instead, writers should strive to create believable and satisfying resolutions that are grounded in the logic and rules of the story’s world, and that reflect the characters’ motivations and actions.