Top 10 Things Mary Sues Aren't
A Mary Sue is a perfect character. Several people misuse the term to the point it's lost its meaning.Calling a character you hate a Mary Sue isn't a legitimate reason to hate the character unless there's sufficient proof that they fit the criteria, which is usually a perfect character. Unfortunately, when broken down, the criteria for a Mary Sue become very subjective. So, while you may consider one character to be a Mary Sue, someone else might think they're well-rounded.
While it's true that many Mary Sues are disliked, not all hated characters are Mary Sues.
An author can make themselves a protagonist of a fanfic and still be a well-rounded character, especially if the character is them. If an author uses it as a coping mechanism or as a psychological self-analysis, that could be considered for character development.
While the term itself refers to female characters who are absolutely perfect, it's not solely females who fall into the trap of a perfect character. Male characters can be Mary Sues as well, except they're usually referred to as Marty Sue or Gary Stu when this happens.
Many cartoon protagonists would be Mary Sues if that were the case.
If this were the case, almost every single character in the Danganronpa franchise would be a Mary Sue. A Mary Sue is unreasonably talented at many things, and the Danganronpa Ultimates are usually highly skilled at one thing.
A Mary Sue has to be talented at nearly everything.
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Seriously, how do colors dictate a character's personality and traits?
The uniqueness of a name depends on how other characters are named. If all characters, including the protagonist, have unique names, that doesn't make the protagonist a Mary Sue.
Just like being goth or emo, a tragic backstory doesn't necessarily make a character a Mary Sue. Instead, it's how the backstory plays into their decisions and actions. For instance, a character may have gone through trauma as a kid, and that trauma could be used as an obstacle in the journey.
Say your character suffered trauma involving dogs, but the plot is centered around something dog-related. That can be a great source of character development. The readers can see how the character reacts when they, say, have to pet a dog for the first time in a long while, and eventually, this will help the character grow.
That being said, if a character has a tragic backstory that doesn't play into their character and is used to get sympathy, you likely have yourself a Mary Sue.
For example, Brian Griffin and Lisa Simpson are definitely not Mary Sues.
While there are goth and emo Mary Sues, just because a character is goth and/or emo doesn't make them a Mary Sue. Lydia Deetz from "Beetlejuice," for instance, is a goth girl who's recently lost her mom and is trying to cope by fixating on death. Her being goth is an essential character trait and it plays into the story, as well as her choices.
If a goth or emo kid were a Mary Sue, their being goth or emo wouldn't have any impact on their actions or decisions. It's usually there for the aesthetic or because the author wants to make an edgy character.
While Mary Sues do tend to be involved in prophecies or be considered "chosen ones," not all "chosen ones" are Mary Sues. Neville Longbottom was part of the prophecy with Voldemort, and he's far from a Marty Sue or Gary Stu. He starts off as a timid boy who's always getting the short end of the stick, but he still sticks it out and perseveres. As the series progresses, so does his character arc, even to the point where he could be considered the hero at the end as opposed to the titular character.
Yes, Mary Sues often have magic or magical connections. However, there are Mary Sues who aren't magical or don't have those connections. Chloe Carmichael from "Fairly Odd Parents," while having connections to fairies, was a Mary Sue even before she had them. She was pretty, nice, loved by pretty much everyone, and never seemed to be in the wrong, even when she should have been blamed.
Inversely, characters with magic can still be flawed. Luna Lovegood, for instance, is considered downright weird because of how she lives and the kind of person she is, which doesn't really make her a Mary Sue. On top of that, her reactions to things aren't always seen as endearing by the characters. If she were a Mary Sue, her weird reactions would be painted as endearing, but they're seen as odd. Neville Longbottom is also a major example. He's an underdog who gradually begins to fight and stand up for himself.