Pages

deus ex machina


Or, god out of the machine.
Referring to the way some Greek poets would lower a god onto the stage via crane to save the hero (!) and provide the audience with a happy ending. Horace (whom I love) detested this device. He said writers must never use such an artificial resource for finishing a narrative or solving a story problem.
Normally, I agree with Horace. 

But, there are certain occasions in my life where I find myself praying for a real life deus ex machina. Except that God himself will save me. Solve the problem. End this particular part of the story quick and gorgeously with a miracle and festive banners of untold happiness.

Even as I say this small prayer, save me—I know it won't be quick and gorgeous. God will not appear on the stage via crane. He will save me. But, it will require a journey.

Which means a lot of boring walking.
It will be so long.

I'm dreading it. 
But, I've read C.S. Lewis' story about Cupid and Psyche. As the sister says of the gods who didn't answer her for years and years and years, "How can they meet us face to face till we have faces?” 

And, so i will learn happiness out of kindness and gratitude. And love, out of many things.





2 comments:

  1. Interesting and beautiful book. I read it after it was gifted to me by one of my wonderful brothers and his wife, who always have a knack for finding great books (including cookbooks--mmm...) for me.

    I'm still not sold on the cop-out ending, where the essence of the character progress is kind of elided, but I do love the title's assertion, which you quoted, and the explanation around it. It's kind of like Elder Eyring's "pavilion" talk: it's not the God doesn't want to talk to us; it's just that we could never quite understand until we are more like Him.

    P.S. I'm listening to La Oreja de Van Gogh. It hate it. Because as much as I love it, it makes me feel melancholy and lovesick, in spite of my perfectly happy marriage.

    P.P.S. I'm not sure why, but I think you would like Punch Brothers. (Nothing to do with the above post--sorry.) If you haven't heard of them, here are a couple of good places to start:
    http://grooveshark.com/#!/album/Who+s+Feeling+Young+Now/7549399
    http://youtu.be/xE5yHE4H4rM

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.