Deus ex machina is a literary technique used to solve a problem or situation suddenly and inexplicably. It is often seen as poor writing and storytelling, but can take many forms, including real bunnies and pseudo-Chekhov. It is commonly used to deal with difficult situations, but can also refer to social situations and political maneuvering. Some authors use it as a self-aware joke. Successful examples include “War of the Worlds” and “Lord of the Rings.”
There is a central literary application of the deus ex machina and that is to find a sudden and inexplicable solution to a problem or situation. The term literally means “God out of the car” and is the equivalent of pulling a rabbit out of a hat. It is a well known and much derided literary technique that is generally seen as a sign of poor writing and storytelling. The term is also called “cop”. Whether or not a literary device is deus ex machina is often subject to interpretation.
The literary deus ex machina comes in many forms. Some of these are real bunnies, but others show signs of an author aware of the trick and trying to re-trace the story to hide the fact. A total deus ex machina does not try to hide the fact and has a solution which is not hinted at in the previous x number of words of the tale. An illogical one has an element mentioned earlier in the story that arises at the right time to solve such a problem.
A pseudo-Chekhov will have previous cases in history that support the solution to the problem or situation. Russian writer Anton Chekhov said that if an object, such as a gun on a wall, is described, then it must be used later in the story. Pseudo-Chekhov is something that will appear logical because it has been described before, but still seems unlikely to the reader. There will also be times when a carefully planned explanation of the situation will seem like a deus ex machina when in reality it is not.
The most obvious application of the deus ex machina literary trick is to deal with a difficult situation. Little Red Riding Hood is stuck in a house with a scary old wolf. How will he survive? Well, the woodcutter arrives at the last moment and saves the day.
There are a number of instances of the successful act of rescue in literature including HG Well’s “War of the Worlds” when aliens on the verge of victory catch a cold and JRR Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” where the giant eagles arrive in time to drive Frodo and Sam from Mount Doom as it erupts.
It’s not just sticky situations that call for a deus ex machina in literature. It can also refer to social situations, political maneuvering, and other storylines. The miracle takes the form of an opportunistic death, apparition or birth. In George Elliot’s “The Mill on the Floss,” it just so happens to be a flood.
Another application is the self-aware joke. This is where the author makes it clear to readers that there will be a miraculous ending; in fact, very often, the audience is looking forward to it. In an unsubtle move, many writers, such as Richard Adams in “Watership Down,” even call the title containing the miracle “Deus Ex Machina.” Other purveyors of the joke include Jasper Fforde in “The Well of Lost Plots” and Stephen King in “The Dark Tower.”
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