Perfection? Please. (An Analysis of Mary-Sue)

Components of a Mary-Sue

Mary-Sues are often made up of these traits. However, if a character has one of these traits, they are most likely not a Mary Sue. Mary-Sues are perfect in every way. If a character is great at one thing, but terrible at another, they are usually not Mary Sues.

Appearance

        A Mary-Sue is rarely ever ugly. Mary-Sues might think of themselves as ugly, but if everyone else thinks she’s beautiful, then she is. In fact, if a character is modest and beautiful, it makes them even more of a Mary Sue. The author usually uses many adjectives and spends an inordinate amount of time describing the Mary-Sue.

          Note: This might not make a Mary-Sue, depending on what universe they are in and if the color is usual.

Hair

          Female Mary-Sues usually have very long, silky, and shiny hair, however inconvenient it may be. It can be any color, but it is usually black, red, blonde, or some insane color, and the color is entirely natural. The hair can be curly, wavy or straight.

          Male Mary-Sues usually have unusual colored hair that is kept messy.

Eyes

          The eyes are the windows to the soul, and usually are a huge hint to Mary-Sues. The eyes are usually green, blue, or some insane color like violet, gold, silver, or red. And, like the hair, it is completely natural. They can flash, have oddly shaped pupils, shimmer, and other odd qualities. Sues usually have very long, dark, and think lashes.

Body

          The Mary-Sue is usually tall, or petite, but never taller than her love interest. The Sue is usually very skinny, but has curves in all the right places, along with abnormally sized assets (also natural and without plastic surgery).

Abilities

Human Abilities

          If the Mary-Sue is in a universe where everyone (including her) is mortal, she possesses incredible talent that takes most humans years to learn. She might be able to speak every language known to humans (even dead ones), knows subjects better than her teachers, or play multiple instruments at professional levels.

          Having said that, she might not be a Mary-Sue if you give reasons how she learned to do the stuff she does, then it lessens the degree of Mary-Sue. But if it’s all just ‘natural talent,’ you probably have a Sue on your hands.

Superhuman Abilities

          If you are writing a world where some people are special and some people are not, this gives a huge chance of making a Mary-Sue if you are not a skilled writer. These Mary-Sues can basically do anything and everything, giving little use to the other characters. Except if she is captured and has to be rescued by her dashing prince.

          If a lot of people have powers, then make sure you deal them out accordingly. If one person can do everything that five characters can, to mix it up. And to every power, there has to be a weakness. Like Superman with his Kryptonite, the character has to have some kind of weakness for the enemy to exploit.

          Mary Sues can be super strong, control minds, can hack into any database ever in seconds, control every element, and is basically invincible.

Names

          Mary-Sues are often named ridiculous names that do not fit their time or setting. They can have extraordinary long names, names not usually used as names, cliché names (Raven, Hunter, etc.), or foreign names for no reason (Japanese names for someone with American parents who’ve always lived in America), or names that they themselves chose for no reason other than they ‘didn’t like’ their name.

Interbreeds

        Some Mary-Sues are interbreeds of two or more species. A Mary-Sue can be part angel/demon/fairie/nymph/werewolf/vampire/etc. They have all the positive traits of the species (heightened senses, control over certain things, magic, wings, etc.) but none of the negatives (fur, blood lust [if they do, they don’t feast savagely on humans], weakness to a certain element, etc.)

Backgrounds

          Mary-Sues often have tragic backgrounds. If in the hands of a skilled writer, one could pull this off. However, most Suethors add in things such as rape and abuse, with no experience. Mary-Sues may grieve over their past, but usually they do not suffer the consequences or mental scarring that comes with people who have actually suffered rape and abuse. Suethors throw in the tragic background not for plot, but so the reader can pity and empathize with the Sue.

Addictions

        Some authors will throw in an addiction to make their character seem ‘cooler.’ However, the Sues never suffer the consequences as such. A Mary-Sue addicted to alcohol will drink, and become slightly tipsy and cute, but she will never have a splitting hangover or have her liver shut down. A Sue addicted to smoking will never have yellow teeth or lung cancer.