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A Mary Sue is a one-dimensional character in fiction who represents the idealized perfection of the author. They lack depth and flaws, and often break the rules of the fictional world. The male equivalent is a Gary Stu. Novice authors are at risk of creating Mary Sues, and readers find them frustrating and uninteresting. While representations of the author are present in many works of fiction, a Mary Sue is not a true representation of the author.
A Mary Sue is a character in a work of fiction who exists primarily to fulfill a wish on the part of the author. She plays a prominent role in the work, but is remarkably free from flaws or a complex personality, and usually represents the pinnacle of idealized perfection. All the other characters love Mary Sue, because she is extraordinarily approachable, talented, beautiful or unusual, and often drives readers crazy because she is one-dimensional and too idealized to be realistic. The male equivalent of a Mary Sue is a Gary Stu.
Although Mary Sues has been featured in fiction for a long time, the modern term comes from a parody of Star Trek fan fiction written in the 1970s. A certain Lieutenant Mary Sue was a thinly veiled idealized version of the author, and the name came to be used for any such character. Novice authors, in particular, run the risk of making Mary Sues, and several websites publish litmus tests that can be used to determine whether or not a character is a Mary Sue.
For readers, Mary Sue can be a uniquely frustrating character. Her lack of depth and her idealized perfection make her rather uninteresting and sometimes so implausible as to spoil the story. Mary Sues often break the rules of a fictional world, and flowery descriptions of their perfect beauty and lavish talents can become boring to the reader. Many Mary Sues are also extremely clichéd and the authors use clichéd terms to describe them; they have “bright eyes”, “flowing hair”, “porcelain skin” and so on. They have unique magical powers, the ability to defy the laws of physics, and an unlikely array of talents; a Mary Sue can be a doctor, a dancer and an astronaut all in one.
While representations of the author are present in many works of fiction, a Mary Sue is not a true representation of the author. Many authors explore facets of themselves in their work, probing their flaws, foibles, and story to strengthen a piece of fiction and make it more engaging. Readers find these characters interesting because they are realistic, flawed, and accessible, making the reader feel a deeper connection to the story. A Mary Sue, on the other hand, is such an obvious insert that it often ends up alienating the reader.
The fan fiction genre is known for its Mary Sues, and the sentiment is certainly understandable; obviously fans will want to imagine themselves in the fictional worlds they love so much. However, Mary Sues also appears in mainstream fiction, film, and television, and astute reviewers often point this out when criticizing such work.
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