I. Introduction
Every writer wants to create a cast of characters that readers will love and remember. But in trying to craft a memorable character, some writers have stumbled onto the Mary Sue trope, a criticism that derides an unrealistic and unoriginal character that is often used in fan fiction.
This article will give you a comprehensive understanding of the Mary Sue trope and how it can be avoided. We will explore its origins and evolution, the debate around strong female characters, and the implications of the label on character development and fan fiction. Finally, we will provide practical advice to help you to create characters with depth and complexity that will leave a lasting impression on the reader.
II. Decoding the ‘Mary Sue’: Understanding The Origins of a Popular Trope
The Mary Sue trope was created by Paula Smith, a Star Trek fan writer in the late 1970s. The original Mary Sue was a young, beautiful officer who was skilled in every professional field. She quickly catches the eyes of other characters, who immediately recognize her exceptional abilities. After performing a heroic act and tragically dying from a terminal illness, the other characters are devastated and vow to honor Mary Sue’s memory.
The character’s name quickly became a shorthand term used to describe an unrealistic, self-insert character in fan fiction or other media. These characters are usually overpowered, have no flaws or weaknesses, and constantly receive praise and admiration from other characters. Since then, the term has been used to criticize characters deemed too perfect and uninteresting.
III. Are Mary Sues Ruining Fiction? A Critical Look at Society’s Misunderstanding of Strong Female Characters
While the Mary Sue trope may indeed be a good criticism against unrealistic, underdeveloped characters, the trope has often been unfairly targeted at strong female characters. In fact, some argue that it is merely a tool of misogyny, used to criticize a female character who does not conform to societal expectations of women.
This criticism is not baseless. Female characters are often criticized for being either too submissive or too aggressive, while male characters are praised for being assertive, strong, and capable. This contributes to the bias in characterization, where female characters are often relegated to the role of a love interest or simply a supporting character with no real substance to their personality. As a result, when a female character comes along with genuine strength and skills, they are often labeled as a Mary Sue, despite the endearing qualities they may possess.
Thankfully, the tide is turning. Recently, female characters such as Wonder Woman, Rey from Star Wars, and Captain Marvel have proven to be both empowering and popular- and are considered characters easy to root for. The way society views and accepts female characters is slowly changing, and with it, a growing number of complex and well-developed characters are emerging.
IV. The Art of Creating Well-Rounded Characters: How to Avoid the Pitfalls of Writing a Mary Sue
The key to avoiding the Mary Sue trope is to create well-rounded characters that have flaws, aspirations, and obstacles to overcome. Characters who undergo hardships and failures in their journey are often more endearing to the audience than ones who never face any real challenge.
One way to make your characters multidimensional is to create backstory. Give them a history that reveals their motivations, beliefs, and personality traits. What motivates them, or what are their fears and desires? What circumstances led to their current state of being? These questions not only help to flesh out your characters, but they also help you to create a compelling and relatable backstory that readers will cheer on.
Another tip is to give them flaws. Characters who possess personality flaws are more relatable than those who don’t have the same imperfections as a regular person. Their flaws not only add to their complexity, but also give them room for growth and development.
V. The Mary Sue Debate: Exploring the Controversial Label and Its Implications on Character Development
The Mary Sue trope is often a controversial topic, with varying perspectives on its usefulness and validity. On one hand, having a label that identifies underdeveloped, unrealistic characters is a useful tool for readers and writers alike. It helps writers to avoid creating one-dimensional characters and helps critics to criticize these kinds of characters when they do slip through the cracks.
However, the label also has its drawbacks. Often, female characters are the targets of such criticism, and are deemed unoriginal, unrealistic, or deemed as Mary Sues. The criticism can also limit creativity and experimentation, as writers would rather play it safe and create characters with less chance of being labeled as Mary Sues. The impact of the Mary Sue label becomes a judgement against a character, rather than an opportunity for growth.
VI. Understanding Fan Fiction Tropes: Deconstructing the Concept of the Mary Sue
It is hard to discuss Mary Sues without broaching the subject of fan fiction writing. Fan fiction is an increasingly popular way for writers to create stories based on their favorite characters and settings. While some fan fiction is excellent, witty, and well-constructed, the medium is often cited as the birthplace of the Mary Sue trope.
Some have argued that Mary Sues are prevalent in fan fiction because it is an outlet for the writer to create something that they see as empowering- a character that they would want to be with the traits they would want to possess. Fan fiction can be considered as a form of wish-fulfilment, which is not inherently wrong. However, too often, that desire leads to the creation of a character who not only reflects the writer’s preferences but also displays little to no development or internal struggle.
VII. When Does Empowerment Become Unrealistic? A Discussion on the Fine Line Between Strong and ‘Mary Sue’ Characters
Strong female characters have traditionally been viewed with suspicion in popular culture. They are few and far between, and when they do appear, their strength is often met with criticisms and resistance from the audience. The term “Mary Sue” has been used in some cases to paint a female character as one-dimensional and unrealistic, and hence uninteresting.
However, as time progresses, the audience is beginning to recognize that female characters can be both strong and layered without being deemed as unrealistic. There is a fine line that writers must navigate between creating an empowering female character as unrealistic, a line which is often blurred by the audience’s preconceptions about female characters, and what is and is not realistic. It has been said that female characters must be twice as good as male characters to be seen as equally capable or realistic.
VIII. From Jedi to Superheroes: A Comprehensive Analysis of Mary Sues in Popular Media
In popular media, the Mary Sue trope is often present in many forms, from Star Wars to Marvel Comics. The danger of relying on the trope is that it can come at the expense of character development, and ultimately, the quality of the story. Often, these characters detract from the story by becoming the center of attention, neglecting all other characters and their development.
However, some media does provide examples of strong female characters that are complex, layered, and well-developed. The portrayal of female characters has come a long way, and modern media frequently gives complex portrayals of women on the screen. From Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games to Tracy Strauss in Heroin Complex, writers are creating female characters that are more than just eye-candy, and whose stories and struggles are as equally captivating as their male counterparts.
IX. Conclusion
In summary, the Mary Sue trope is a criticism of characters that are underdeveloped, unrealistic, and often not up to the standards of other characters in the story. But it is also a term that has been used to unfairly target strong female characters, leading to an overuse of the label ‘Mary Sue’ when assessing complex and well-developed characters. Creating multidimensional characters with flaws is essential for any writer to create a compelling story, avoid stereotypes, and produce genuinely unforgettable characters. So why not try it?
Create characters that are relatable, engaging, and don’t fall victim to the Mary Sue label. By doing so, you’ll be ahead of the game as the portrayal of female characters in media evolves and improves, paving the way for even richer, more engaging stories and characters.