mcguffin

The McGuffin is a plot device in filmmaking and literature. It is an object, device, or goal that the protagonist(s) need to acquire or achieve, and the pursuit of which drives the plot. The nature of the McGuffin itself is often unimportant to the story; its primary function is to motivate the characters and create narrative tension.

The term "McGuffin" was popularized by Alfred Hitchcock. He explained that the specifics of the McGuffin were irrelevant to the audience, as long as the characters believed it was important. For example, in Hitchcock's film "The 39 Steps," the McGuffin is a set of microfilm containing secret plans. What is on the microfilm is never revealed, and the audience doesn't need to know. The important thing is that the protagonists are trying to get it and the antagonists are trying to stop them.

Common examples of McGuffins include stolen jewels, a secret formula, a vital document, or a rare artifact. The audience may be led to believe the McGuffin has immense power or significance, but in reality, its value is solely in its ability to move the plot forward. Other characters' motivations and the ensuing conflict are what truly matter to the narrative. The McGuffin serves as a catalyst for action, a MacGuffin is whatever the characters are chasing, but the audience doesn't care what it is.