What is a McGuffin?

    According to the geniuses over at Merriam Webster (yes, the same Professors that added words like adorbs and bae into the dictionary) defines a McGuffin (or MacGuffin) as:

    "An object, event, or character in a film or story that serves to     set and keep the plot in motion despite usually lacking intrinsic     importance."

    

    Where did this word originate? Scotland? No, it came from Angus McPhail, one of old Freddy Hitchcock's screenwriters, and some old joke of his. Not that important, like the McGuffin itself, since it was a device well before Hitchcock's works.  

    You already know some examples of McGuffins, even if you don't know you know. Maybe you did not know they were McGuffins, or in some cases MockGuffins (explained later). Example number one, the Holy Grail. The Cup of Christ. The McGuffin in a myriad of mesmerizing tales of adventure and mystery. My personal favorite being Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. 

There are a few particular criteria that an object must meet in order for it to technically be a McGuffin. 

Explanation in bound!

Is the nature of the item or the item itself interchangeable?

Think about a heist of a high value item from a museum. Whether the item is a massive ruby or a priceless painting, the general nature of the heist story will be the same. This is regardless of the item in question. 

Is the nature of the item irrelevant to the plot?

McGuffins are all objects of significant value. What that value is does vary, from monetary to supernatural power, but they are significant enough for the characters/entities in the story to desire and seek. However, they are not vital to constructing the plot. The hero is going to change based on the events in seeking the McGuffin, but not because of the McGuffin itself. For example, in the Last Crusade, the Grail is not the real story for Indiana Jones. It is about reconnecting with his father.

If the object/thing provides a "yes" answer for both of those questions, then it is indeed a McGuffin. The McGuffin gets the ball rolling on the plot, it is something the characters are invested in, and is not really cared about by the audience.

If not, then you may have yourself a bona fide MockGuffin!

A MockGuffin is essentially an object of power or value that the characters discover to be a fake. For instance, a gold mine is rumored to have heaps of glimmering gold, but when the characters fight their way to the mine, they find glimmering heaps of pyrite. Fool's Gold. 

It can be argued that the Holy Grail is a MockGuffin, because Henry Jones Senior does eventually die, even though he was healed with the water from the Grail. Of course, he didn't actually drink it...so it could be argued that is why he dies.  

Do you need a McGuffin? No, there are other plot devices to be sure. I also think they work better in certain genres like an adventure thriller or a treasure hunt adventure. Fantasy novels also employ them in different forms, be it a magical sword or a holy relic. 

This is my personal style and opinion, others will differ. More information, and probably better descriptions, can be found on the Google. 

When you are ready to create your own McGuffin then click HERE to see my next post!