Is your character a Mary Sue?

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

I found this test earlier and took if for Zeshin. I think it would be kinda neat and interesting if we all took it with one or a few of our characters and posted the results, but it only works if your completely honest when answering. Here's the link and my results with Zeshin.

www.katfeete.net/writing/marysue.html

Zeshin is only a little like you. He may be popular, or he may not, but no matter what he's impossible to ignore; he stands out... just the way you always wanted to. He always knew he was special, destined for great things - and probably made sure everyone else knew it too. He's had more than his fair share of hard knocks, and probably spends more time than he ought moaning about it. And you've been sparing with the free handouts: whatever he gains, he's worked for.

You may have let yourself get a little too close to Zeshin. Maybe he's you as you wish you were, or maybe you're just afraid no one will like him and are trying to give him a free ride. Have some confidence in your writing! Zeshin is a good character. Give him room to be himself before you stifle him.

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

Here's a definition for those unfamiliar with the term:

The etymology is as such, a Mary Sue (sometimes just Sue), in fanfiction, is a fictional character with overly idealized and hackneyed mannerisms, lacking noteworthy flaws, and primarily functioning as a wish-fulfillment fantasy for the author or reader. Perhaps the single underlying feature of all characters described as "Mary Sues" is that they are too ostentatious for the audience's taste, or that the author seems to favor the character too highly. The author may seem to push how exceptional and wonderful the "Mary Sue" character is on his or her audience, sometimes leading the audience to dislike or even resent the character fairly quickly; such a character could be described as an "author's pet".

Although the traits of a "Mary Sue" are not necessarily gender-specific, the term itself is used exclusively for females. The term must be modified to refer to male characters; they are often dubbed "Gary Stu", "Larry Stu", "Marty Stu", or similar names. While the label "Mary Sue" itself originates from a parody of this type of character, most characters labeled "Mary Sues" by readers are not intended by authors as such.

While the term is generally limited to fan-created characters, and its most common usage today occurs within the fan fiction community or in reference to fan fiction, original characters in role-playing games or literary canon are also sometimes criticized as being "Mary Sues" or "canon Sues," if they dominate the spotlight or are too unrealistic or unlikely in other ways. One example of this criticism is Wesley Crusher from Star Trek: The Next Generation.

The term "Mary Sue" is taken from a character created by Paula Smith in 1973 for her parody story "A Trekkie's Tale,"[4] published in her fanzine Menagerie #2.[5] The character in question was Lieutenant Mary Sue ("the youngest Lieutenant in the fleet — only fifteen and a half years old"). Smith's story poked fun at unrealistic and adolescent wish-fantasy characters in Star Trek fan fiction. Such characters were generally original (non-canon) and female adolescents who had romantic liaisons with established canon adult characters or in some cases were the younger relatives or protégés of those characters. They also possessed unrealistic, often exotic skills beyond those that would have been expected of a character in that series or of a conventional author surrogate. "Mary Sue" was expanded to include any author surrogate or overly idealized character who plays a big role in original fiction as well as fan fiction.

Today "Mary Sue" carries a connotation of wish-fulfillment and is commonly associated with self-insertion (the writing of oneself into a fictional story). True self-insertion is a literal and generally undisguised representation of the author; most characters described as "Mary Sues" are not, though they are often called "proxies"[6] for the author. The negative connotation comes from this "wish-fulfillment" implication: the "Mary Sue" is judged a poorly developed character, too perfect and lacking in realism to be interesting. Such proxy characters, critics claim, exist only because authors wish to see themselves as the "special" character in question.

The term is also associated with cliché such as exotic hair and eye colors, mystical or superhuman powers, exotic pets, possessions, or origins, or an unusually tragic past, especially when these things are glaringly out of step with the consistency of the canon. These features are commonplace in "Mary Sues", though even a character who lacks them may be labeled a "Sue" by some critics. The term is more broadly associated with characters who are exceptionally and improbably lucky. The good luck may involve romance ("Mary Sue" always gets her man); adventure ("Mary Sue" always wins a fight or knows how to solve the puzzle) and popularity (the "right people" seem to gravitate towards the character). These characters have few problems while attempting to achieve their goals. "Everything goes her way" is a common criticism regarding "Mary Sues", the implication being that the character is not sufficiently humanized or challenged to be interesting or sympathetic.

[Sanada Tomo]

Sanada Tomoyo is only a little like you. She may be popular, or she may not, but no matter what she's impossible to ignore; she stands out... just the way you always wanted to. She may have sometimes thought that she was special, or destined for greater things, but probably dismissed the idea as a fantasy. She's come in for her share of hurt, but gotten off with minor damage. And she's gotten no slack from you.

In general, you care deeply about Sanada Tomoyo, but you're smart enough to let her stand on her own, without burdening her with your personal fantasies or propping her up with idealization and over-dramatization. Sanada Tomoyo is a healthy character with a promising career ahead of her.

----------------------------
This test was nice. It actually made me realize how many different criterion Tomo actually meets. Her highest score for Mary-Sue-ness was in the love department, though, which makes sense because originally she was supposed to be Mary-Sue-ish in that particular aspect.

[Uesugi Yomi]

Uesugi Yomi is suspiciously similar to you as you'd like to be. She may be popular, or she may not, but no matter what she's impossible to ignore; she stands out... just the way you always wanted to. She may have sometimes thought that she was special, or destined for greater things, but probably dismissed the idea as a fantasy. She's come in for her share of hurt, but gotten off with minor damage. And she's gotten no slack from you.

In general, you care deeply about Uesugi Yomi, but you're smart enough to let her stand on her own, without burdening her with your personal fantasies or propping her up with idealization and over-dramatization. Uesugi Yomi is a healthy character with a promising career ahead of her.
-----------------------------------
No no no no. Fuck this bitch. Promising my ass.

[Sanada Tomo]

Yamazaki Rei isn't a character: she's you, or you as you'd like to be. She isn't really very cool: she blends into crowds, she hangs out on the fringes at parties, and wearing shades after dark makes her run into things. She may have sometimes thought that she was special, or destined for greater things, but probably dismissed the idea as a fantasy. She's had more than her fair share of hard knocks, and probably spends more time than she ought moaning about it. And you've been sparing with the free handouts: whatever she gains, she's worked for.

You may have let yourself get a little too close to Yamazaki Rei. Maybe she's you as you wish you were, or maybe you're just afraid no one will like her and are trying to give her a free ride. Have some confidence in your writing! Yamazaki Rei is a good character. Give her room to be herself before you stifle her.
---------------------------------
Lmao.

[Kawairashii Yancha]

yancha is only a little like you. He may be popular, or he may not, but no matter what he's impossible to ignore; he stands out... just the way you always wanted to. He may have sometimes thought that he was special, or destined for greater things, but probably dismissed the idea as a fantasy. He's come in for his share of hurt, but gotten off with minor damage. And you've been sparing with the free handouts: whatever he gains, he's worked for.

In general, you care deeply about yancha, but you're smart enough to let him stand on his own, without burdening him with your personal fantasies or propping him up with idealization and over-dramatization. yancha is a healthy character with a promising career ahead of him.

-------------------
Yancha's Highest score was in YO!
Well Everybody does like Yancha and the bad guys do think he's hot..lol

[Mishiranu Arashi]

Arashi Mishiranu is only a little like you. He isn't really very cool: he blends into crowds, he hangs out on the fringes at parties, and wearing shades after dark makes him run into things. He may have sometimes thought that he was special, or destined for greater things, but probably dismissed the idea as a fantasy. He's had more than his fair share of hard knocks, and probably spends more time than he ought moaning about it. And he's gotten no slack from you.

In general, you care deeply about Arashi Mishiranu, but you're smart enough to let him stand on his own, without burdening him with your personal fantasies or propping him up with idealization and over-dramatization. Arashi Mishiranu is a healthy character with a promising career ahead of him.
---------------------------------
ummm.. is this right? Well he did score a 19 in Angst R Us. Jeez He needs some friends.

[Kim James]

Kim James is suspiciously similar to you as you'd like to be. He isn't really very cool: he blends into crowds, he hangs out on the fringes at parties, and wearing shades after dark makes him run into things. There's never been anything special about him that he could see; boy, is he in for a surprise. He's got no emotional scars to speak of. And he's gotten no slack from you.

In general, you care deeply about Kim James, but you're smart enough to let him stand on his own, without burdening him with your personal fantasies or propping him up with idealization and over-dramatization. Kim James is a healthy character with a promising career ahead of him.
-------------------------
I care deeply for all my charries apparently. And I'm alot like Kim James here... Because We're both men, we both like women, and we share a name. I want to be just like kim when I grow up.

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

So far I've got the closest thing to a Mary Sue apparently, which was the exact opposite intention when I created him.

[Mikage Tsubasa]

Mikage Tsubasa is suspiciously similar to you as you'd like to be. She is not at all cool; in fact, she thinks cool is a temperature reading, and when she says "Oh, I just put on whatever old thing's lying around," she means "on the floor, where I threw it last night - but I turned the underwear inside out first." She always knew she was special, destined for great things - and probablyf made sure everyone else knew it too. She's got no emotional scars to speak of. And you've been sparing with the free handouts: whatever she gains, she's worked for.

In general, you care deeply about Mikage Tsubasa, but you're smart enough to let her stand on her own, without burdening her with your personal fantasies or propping her up with idealization and over-dramatization. Mikage Tsubasa is a healthy character with a promising career ahead of her.

[Sanada Tomo]

I think that Rei's the closest thing to a Mary Sue, actually.

[Ongaku Migoto]

Migoto is only a little like you. He is so impossibly hip that he has difficulty seeing over his own pelvis; he'll probably die young, but damn, will it have been a good life. There's never been anything special about him that he could see; boy, is he in for a surprise. He's come in for his share of hurt, but gotten off with minor damage. And you've been sparing with the free handouts: whatever he gains, he's worked for.

In general, you care deeply about Migoto, but you're smart enough to let him stand on his own, without burdening him with your personal fantasies or propping him up with idealization and over-dramatization. Migoto is a healthy character with a promising career ahead of him.
__________________________________________________

I'd expect nothing less.

Score Breakdown
I Love Him, I Let Him Go 7
James Dean, James Dean... 23
Plain Joe 0
Can't Complain 6
Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child 7
________________________________
Total: 43

[Akuma Sara]

Sara Akuma is nothing like you. She may be popular, or she may not, but no matter what she's impossible to ignore; she stands out... just the way you always wanted to. She may have sometimes thought that she was special, or destined for greater things, but probably dismissed the idea as a fantasy. She's come in for her share of hurt, but gotten off with minor damage. And you've been sparing with the free handouts: whatever she gains, she's worked for.

In general, you care deeply about Sara Akuma, but you're smart enough to let her stand on her own, without burdening her with your personal fantasies or propping her up with idealization and over-dramatization. Sara Akuma is a healthy character with a promising career ahead of her.

---------------------------

Works for me....This is her...

---------------

Do I Know This Guy? 2
Yo! 15
I'm Destined For What? 6
Can't Complain 4
Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child 10
Total: 37

[Kouzetsu Gin]

Gin is nothing like you. He isn't really very cool: he blends into crowds, he hangs out on the fringes at parties, and wearing shades after dark makes him run into things. He may have sometimes thought that he was special, or destined for greater things, but probably dismissed the idea as a fantasy. He's come in for his share of hurt, but gotten off with minor damage. And you've been sparing with the free handouts: whatever he gains, he's worked for.

In general, you care deeply about Gin, but you're smart enough to let him stand on his own, without burdening him with your personal fantasies or propping him up with idealization and over-dramatization. Gin is a healthy character with a promising career ahead of him.



Score Breakdown
Do I Know This Guy? 3
You Mean Plaid Is Out? 7
I'm Destined For What? 10
Can't Complain 5
Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child 6
Total: 31
_______________________________________________________________________

Interesting

[Chrysett and Chrysanthemum]

I found another one ^^

www.springhole.net/quizzes/marysue.htm

This one is a bit more precise and a bit less lenient on character status.

[Josiah Malkuth]

Tried the first one, it wasn't very accurate (the questions didn't fit his situations) but the second one was better. Scored 15 on that, but that obviously might go up or down depending on future events. Cross your fingers.

[Sanada Tomo]

Jul 30, 2010 23:21:45 GMT -4 Josiah Malkuth said:

Tried the first one, it wasn't very accurate (the questions didn't fit his situations) but the second one was better. Scored 15 on that, but that obviously might go up or down depending on future events. Cross your fingers.

With the first one, you're supposed to ask them to yourself in the version of your character's world. I'm pretty sure that you could do that in a way that would make it apply to your character. >.>

<.<

Tomo scored like 43 on the second one, btw, but I'm not upset about that. She's had a lot of Mary-Sue situation run ins over the past six years, and her origin just screams Sue in and of itself. I'm actually quite proud that she only scored that much. ^^ At least her number was in between tiers on the scale. XD

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

The second one didn't go very well either, 61, and I haven't even done anything substantial, this is quite frustrating.

[Rosey]

For the first test:
Rosey is suspiciously similar to you as you'd like to be. She may be popular, or she may not, but no matter what she's impossible to ignore; she stands out... just the way you always wanted to. She always knew she was special, destined for great things - and probablyf made sure everyone else knew it too. She's come in for her share of hurt, but gotten off with minor damage. And she's gotten no slack from you.

You may have let yourself get a little too close to Rosey. Maybe she's you as you wish you were, or maybe you're just afraid no one will like her and are trying to give her a free ride. Have some confidence in your writing! Rosey is a good character. Give her room to be herself before you stifle her.

Score Breakdown
She's Got My Nose 23
Yo! 13
Hey, Wanna See My Crown-Shaped Birthmark? 12
Can't Complain 5
Momma HATES Her! 1
Total: 54

With the second test:
0-16 Points
Most likely Not-Sue. Characters at this level could probably take a little spicing up without hurting them any.

-2

[Trevor Rhys]

I should be finishing a narrative. But I'm a sucker for internet tests... I put Trevor up for review. Haven't done much with him, so I'm taking all these results with a +margin of error.

First I got this:

Trevor is only a little like you. He is not at all cool; in fact, he thinks cool is a temperature reading, and when he says "Oh, I just put on whatever old thing's lying around," he means "on the floor, where I threw it last night - but I turned the underwear inside out first." He may have sometimes thought that he was special, or destined for greater things, but probably dismissed the idea as a fantasy. He's got no emotional scars to speak of. And he's gotten no slack from you.

In general, you care deeply about Trevor, but you're smart enough to let him stand on his own, without burdening him with your personal fantasies or propping him up with idealization and over-dramatization. Trevor is a healthy character with a promising career ahead of him.

Score Breakdown
I Love Him, I Let Him Go 7
He's The Anti-Cool 2
I'm Destined For What? 7
Healthy as a Horse 2
Momma HATES Him! 0
Total: 18

And for the second test he got a 14... But yeah, like I said, I'm just going to add a 20 to that and keep telling myself to stay vigilant...