Well, it partly comes from the fact that the world is so convincingly built prior to this moment that we are willing to go with where it takes us.So why does this use of a Deus ex machina (arguably) not jar so much as it could? The eagle swoops down and flies them to safety.In The Lord of The Rings: Return of the King the characters Frodo and Sam are saved from a hopeless situation on top of Mount Doom by a giant eagle.So, because of this, the writer’s use of a Deus ex machina is somewhat palatable. This film series is generally praised as being some of the best fantasy work out there. And oftentimes the story may be so good that the presence of a Deus ex machina goes largely unremarked upon.Ī good example of this is in The Lord of The Rings. Many stories may use a Deus ex machina because they can create an amazing story and just use a Deus ex machina to finish it off easily. Why Do Screenwriters Use a Deus Ex Machina? It is something that has no previous setup but is thrown in to avoid a negative ending and provide a resolution. It can be an object, an unexpected ability, or a random event. Whilst it can also act as a comedic device.įurthermore, the “god” does not have to be a physical being. Unfortunately, it is almost always abrupt and something that takes away from the script more than it adds to it.Īdditionally, a Deus ex machina can also be used to surprise the audience as a form of a plot twist. So, a Deus ex machina in modern writing is used to fix these situations. Nonetheless, getting your characters out of trouble seems unlikely. Sometimes this is by accident and other times it is purposeful. This happens because of how the script is set up. In modern screenwriting, a Deus ex machina is employed when you have created situations for your characters that are nearly impossible to get out of. It became popular because bringing in a god to save the day helped bolster the moral message being delivered by the play. Having a god descend from the heavens and save the day soon became a popular practice in Greek playwriting. In the play, after Medea has killed her and her husband Jason’s children, she is whisked away by the Sun god. One of the most popular examples of a Deus ex machina in Greek plays is in Medea by Euripides. Then that god would save the day in the story. At the end of the play an actor playing a god would be lowered onto the stage by a crane or type of machine. The term Deus ex machina originated from the practice in ancient Greek plays. In Conclusion: Deus Ex Machina, Friend or Foe?.
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