Mary Sue
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English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From the name of an intentionally over-the-top character in the 1973 Star Trek parody fan fiction A Trekkie's Tale by Paula Smith.
Noun[edit]
- (fandom slang, usually derogatory) A fictional character, usually female, whose implausible talents and likeability weaken the story.
- Synonym: Sue
- 2010 August 3, Ta-Nehisi Coates, “A Whole New World”, in The Atlantic[1]:
- Bella may be a Mary Sue, but if we don't identify with her, and even if we do, there's no other interpretive place for us in the universe.
- 2015 January 20, Sian Cain, “Why a non-white Nancy Drew could be amazing”, in The Guardian[2]:
- She was a mashup of ideals that made her feel very fake; a Mary Sue who was popular, pretty, athletic, artistic, all the while loved by everyone who met her.
- 2015 December 19, Tasha Robinson, “With Star Wars' Rey, we've reached Peak Strong Female Character”, in The Verge[3]:
- So here's a radical suggestion: instead of being concerned about whether her Mary Sue flawlessness is a problem, why not, just this once, enjoy it for what it is?
- 2022 August 18, Dan Shive, El Goonish Shive - EGS:NP (webcomic), Comic for Thursday, Aug 18, 2022:
- There is one, and only one, previously unheard of flaw that keeps Nanase from being the merriest of Mary Sues. That flaw is...
Usage notes[edit]
- Used especially with reference to fan fiction.