The expression “Mary Sue” carries an unusual mix of ridicule and fascination. It describes a character so exceptional, so flawlessly capable, that the story bends around her success. Every challenge seems designed to affirm her brilliance rather than test it. In its most common sense, the phrase refers to a character who feels unreal because she embodies an author’s personal wish fulfillment, rather than the complexities of an independent figure. The expression first appeared in fan fiction to describe impossibly perfect heroes, and over time it has developed into a broader critique of storytelling that questions how much flaw or struggle a protagonist needs to feel truly alive on the page.
Origin and Key Traits
The label “Mary Sue” emerged in the early 1970s inside fanfiction of the television series Star Trek. In the satirical short story “A Trekkie’s Tale” (1973) by Paula Smith, the eponymous Lieutenant Mary Sue is fifteen and inexplicably brilliant, the youngest lieutenant in the fleet. The story mocked a recurring pattern in amateur fan works: a new character who outshines the originals, attracts all attention, and receives adoration from established characters with little justification. Over time, the term bled into general literary and media criticism.
Under the umbrella of “Mary‐Sue character,” writers and critics often identify a set of sign posts. Some of the most commonly cited traits are:
- Exceptional talent or power with minimal training or struggle.
- Lack of meaningful internal or external flaws; consequences seldom follow from their actions.
- Role in the story centers on them disproportionately; supporting characters exist to highlight their superiority.
- They may function as an author-insert or wish-fulfillment figure.
It is important to note that the presence of one or two of these traits does not automatically make a character a Mary Sue; rather, the label emerges when the character destabilizes the credibility or balance of the story.
Significance of Mary Sue
Calling out a Mary Sue character serves two connected purposes. First, it flags a possible weakness in writing: when characters have no room for growth or failure, they cease to feel human, and the narrative stakes shrink. Second, it provokes a reflection on authorial bias: if the character operates primarily as a projection of the author’s desires instead of a distinct individual in the story, the reader’s engagement may weaken. At the same time, critics caution that the term is sometimes misapplied, especially toward female protagonists, where the underlying motivation may include bias against stronger female characters.
3 Mary Sue Examples
- Rey (Star Wars sequel trilogy): Rey has been identified by many critics as a Mary Sue: she rapidly masters the Force, displays piloting and combat skills with little prior training, and emerges as the center of her story’s resolution. Supporters argue that she fits a mythic hero template where latent potential is discovered, but the Mary Sue dialogue illustrates how swiftly she appears and how few setbacks she endures.
- Anastasia Steele (E. L. James’s Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy): Anastasia is frequently cited as a Mary Sue: despite her inexperience, she becomes the sole person able to captivate the powerful Christian Grey, nearly unaffected by the complications around her. Her character’s minimal struggle and rapid acceptance into a high-stakes romantic world are core to the criticism.
- Bella Swan (Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer): Bella is often cited as a Mary Sue because of how other characters are drawn to her despite her ordinary background and minimal flaws. She becomes central to the story’s conflicts without much resistance or growth, and her appeal to powerful figures like Edward Cullen and Jacob Black reinforces the sense of idealization that defines the trope.
While the label can be dismissive, it can also open up productive reflections: how much skill does a protagonist need before we lose tension? How much imperfection is necessary for us to root for them? Writers can use the concept of the “Mary Sue trap” to guard against characters who demand complete admiration rather than evoke empathy. Examining notable examples of Mary Sue characters helps reveal how different narratives handle power, flaw, and consequence, and which ones manage to keep their protagonists grounded in realism without weakening their credibility.
The Male Counterpart: Gary Stu
The term eventually inspired a masculine equivalent, often called the Gary Stu or Marty Stu. Like his female counterpart, he is impossibly skilled, admired by everyone, and rarely faces meaningful setbacks. The character functions as a fantasy of competence and control, where intelligence, beauty, and charm combine into a version of perfection that leaves little room for struggle or growth.
Examples often mentioned include Wesley Crusher from Star Trek: The Next Generation, whose precocious intelligence and unearned authority often frustrated viewers, and Ender Wiggin from Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game (1985), a child strategist so gifted that his victories feel preordained. While the Mary Sue discussion historically carried gendered criticism, the emergence of Gary Stu exposes how idealization affects storytelling more broadly. Both archetypes reveal the tension between aspiration and believability, reminding writers that readers connect most deeply with characters who can fail, learn, and change.
Further Reading
What Is A “Mary Sue” Character and Do They Actually Exist In Fiction? by Christopher Shultz, Litreactor
What is a ‘Mary Sue’? on Quora
What does it mean for a character to be “Mary Sue”? on Reddit
