by Thomas Kies
What exactly is a MacGuffin? The term originated with Alfred Hitchcock who said, "In crook stories it is almost always the necklace and in spy stories it is most always the papers".
If you read books, watch movies, or play video games, you most certainly have encountered a MacGuffin. It’s a plot device that motivates the characters and is the engine that drives the story forward. But in reality, the MacGuffin has little or no real value or meaning.
Some famous examples of MacGuffins are:
● The briefcase in Pulp Fiction (what WAS in there, anyway?)
● The letters of transit in Casablanca
● The Death Star plans in Star Wars
● The Holy Grail in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade—or the Ark of the Covenant, or the stones in the Temple of Doom, or the Crystal Skull (awful movie). Or…whatever else is in the new flick.
● The Maltese Falcon in The Maltese Falcon (Loved the book, loved the movie!!)
MacGuffins can be objects, people, places, or concepts. They can be tangible or intangible, concrete or abstract, realistic or something from a fever-dream. They can be sought after by the good guys, the bad guys, or, even better, both. They can be revealed, hidden, lost, found, stolen, destroyed, or forgotten.
MacGuffins are great story props and often where the real tale begins.
The MacGuffin is there to create conflict and tension. And all stories are moved by conflict and tension.
It helps drive the story forward. It gives the characters a reason to pursue their goals, face obstacles, and overcome challenges. It also provides a source of mystery and intrigue for the audience, who may wonder what the MacGuffin is, why it is important, and what will happen to it.
However, a MacGuffin is not the same as a theme or a message. A MacGuffin does not have to be symbolic or meaningful in itself. It does not have to reflect the deeper issues or values of the story. As a matter of fact, maybe it shouldn’t.
It does not have to be explained or resolved by the end of the story. In fact, sometimes the best MacGuffins are the ones that remain ambiguous or irrelevant. Once again, think of Pulp Fiction and whatever was in that briefcase. Everyone wanted it, but we never find out what it was.
A good MacGuffin is one that enhances the story without dominating it. It is one that sparks curiosity without demanding attention. It is one that drives action without dictating outcome. It is one that matters to the characters but not to the audience.
Humphrey Bogart, playing Sam Spade, describes the Maltese Falcon as the “thing that dreams are made of.” The Maltese Falcon, of course, turns out to be a fake. The ultimate MacGuffin.
