Deus ex Machina

[caliburncy at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 26967

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Aberforth's Goat" <Aberforths_Goat at Y...> 
> As I see the word used, I wouldn't limit the term to plot 
> resolutions delivered by a divine or paternal figure. To my ears, it 
> is more of a catch-all for all unnatural and contrived attempts to 
> help out the good guy.

This last bit might be a little too general for people trying to 
understand the term though.  Because obviously it's use has expanded 
in modern day beyond just divine intervention, but I'd say it's still 
at least limited in more proper usage to the protagonist being saved 
by some external force or third party in a contrived way.  It's not 
just any unnatural or contrived attempt, because I (at least) wouldn't 
classify the incompetence of the antagonist (see below about GOF), 
which is nonetheless often contrived, as "deus ex machina".  Because 
while it is a force external to the protagonist, it is not external to 
the conflict since it belongs to the villain.  The intervening force 
of "deus ex machina" is usually external to the conflict up until the 
point of intervention--hence why many consider it contrived in the 
first place.

> It combines with _malefactor sub machina_ ("bad guy under the car") 
> to create the MacGyver knife of story-telling.

LOL!
 
> Anyway, I'd say GoF's problems are more of the latter sort. I can 
> imagine Dumbledore smelling a rat and heading back Hogwardswards; 
> what I can't imagine is Real!Crouch not having the wits to kill 
> Harry and scram.

And again, the first example is a much closer (though not precise) 
case of "deus ex machina", but the second, while perhaps a less 
credible plot development overall, is not as close a case.

Basically, I'm trying to clarify that "deus ex machina" isn't just a 
matter of the credibility or contrivedness of the situation, but 
whether or not the conflict resolved itself (which is not "deus ex 
machina") or was solved by something else "just in the nick of time" 
for the hero (which is "deus ex machina").  I'm sure you realize this, 
Mike; I'm mostly explaining for the sake of anyone less familiar with 
the term, lest they grow confused.

-Luke