History Main / CommonMarySueTraits

** Bad example, as depending on ''where'' in Medieval Europe, she is likely to know (though not be literate in) in as many as three or four languages. Latin was the ''Lingua Franca'' of Europe, so depending on where she was (such as a city or near a major trade route), she would likely be at least familiar with that that language. Bilingualism was very common in Europe back then, even amongst the lower classes.

** Sometimes they'll mess her up once so she can learn an[[BrokenAesop important lesson.]] And then they'll help her for the rest of the story.

* The author takes personal offense at any criticism of the character or story, no matter how well-meaning or justified it is.
** Bonus points for an [[SmallNameBigEgo overblown ego]] behind it.

With the way the word has mutated over time, a great many people just end up labeling any character overdosed with these traits as a MarySue regardless of her importance within the story. That's not necessarily true. Even if a character has quite a number of the traits described below, Mary-Sueness can still be averted by a good enough explanation for why they're there. It's when a trait exists more to make somebody stand out than to develop them as a character that it starts going into MarySue territory (unless it's PlayedForLaughs). Alternatively you may feel as if the writer is frantically trying to justify a trait to themselves and the reader.

... and for those who want to build their own without any effort, go [[http://rawrima.dyn-o-saur.com/fatguy.php here]] and refresh until you find [[CrowningMomentOfFunny something you like!]]

* SympatheticSue has an unusually DarkAndTroubledPast to the excess, but other subtypes often have them too, just to emphasize how brave and special she is to live through it. This past is rarely explored in-depth, just dropped casually into the conversation to get attention. Alternatively it's written badly owing to [[DidNotDoTheResearch not doing much research]]. How much she {{Wangst}}s about it is usually out of proportion with how bad it really is.

--> HeartwarmingOrphan - Plane crashes and car accidents are increasingly common ways to make her [[ItsAllMyFault feel responsible]], without actually doing anything ''wrong.''
--> [[RapeAsBackstory Rape]] or Molestation - RapeIsTheNewDeadParents. Most notable when it's given just as a cursory excuse for... well, whatever. A ''real'' Sue will shout it out, "I WAS RAPED!" she'll scream, and that is supposed to explain everything.

** The more common practice is to give the Sue a name that the author [[AwesomeMcCoolname really, really likes.]] As in, [[AuthorAppeal wishes it were their own name or the name they'd give to their firstborn.]] Names like Raven, Hunter, Samantha, or Sam are {{Understatement}}: really popular for this.

** The more common practice is to give the Sue a name that the author [[AwesomeMcCoolname really, really likes.]] As in, [[AuthorAppeal wishes it were their own name or the name they'd give to their firstborn.]] Names like Raven, Hunter, Samantha, or Sam are [[Understatement really popular for this.]]

** The more common practice is to give the Sue a name that the author [[AwesomeMcCoolname really, really likes.]] As in, [[AuthorAppeal wishes it were their own name or the name they'd give to their firstborn.]]

* In text, [[CostumePorn massive descriptions of their clothes]], or links to images of their outfits. Bonus points if it's designer clothes in a situation where it would be unlikely.
* She might have some kind of birthmark denoting her specialness.

** And the guy will probably be a DracoinLeatherPants who will be quickly [[HeelFaceTurn Heel Face Turn'd]] by the Sue with just her beauty or [[SarcasmMode Personality]].

* Similar to the above, she will often wear special clothes even when the rest of the cast is supposed to be in some form of uniform.
** Alternately, she will wear a uniform that resembles the standard one that other characters wear, but it will be customized, meaning it will be especially skimpy and impractical. For example, if the uniform includes a skirt (or even when it doesn't), Sue's skirt will be skin tight and extremely short, and will usually be paired with thigh-high fishnets.

<<|LawsAndFormulas|>>
<<|MarySueTropes|>>

This article will concern itself with gender neutral and female traits. For male variants, see MartyStu. For a couple of litmus tests that draw on much the same source material, see [[http://www.springhole.net/quizzes/marysue.htm here]] and [[http://www.ponylandpress.com/ms-test.html here]].

* She'll often wear [[{{Stripperiffic}} revealing outfits]] with tons of gems, FrillsOfJustice, and other extraneous details, even if it may be difficult or impossible to find such an outfit in the world (or be well outside of her realistic price bracket). Such flashy outfits will likely be [[ImpracticallyFancyOutfit just too impractical]] to wear in RealLife.

** Eyes the color of gem stones. Not only emeralds or sapphires, but also more unheard of eye colours like, for example, amethyst. Bonus points for [[BoatLights Boat Light eyes]]

* A perfect singing voice. Most often shows up in MarySueClassic. No doubt inspired in part by the Disney Princesses, but is becoming less common what with the trait now commonly labeled as MarySue.
** She may have proficiency with a random musical instrument. Of course, she'll have a skill level so high, she would smash Jimi Hendrix in a guitar battle. On AirGuitar.
** This is actually becoming popular again. This time due to pop divas instead of disney princesses.

** And she always has it with [[EstrogenBrigadeBait the guy that has the most fangirls]].
*** And the guy will probably be a [[DracoinLeatherPants bad guy]] who will be quickly [[HeelFaceTurn Heel Face Turn'd]] by the Sue with just her beauty or [[SarcasmMode Personality]].

* A type of martial arts (bonus points if it is [[InstantAwesomeJustAddNinja ninjutsu]]) in a setting or with a backstory that doesn't allow for it.

* Absurd natural athletic ability -- she can run like the wind without ever having worked on her running.
* And with all this -- don't expect the GreenEyedMonster to show up. Envy appears in the Mary Sue's life only as a means of angst, and so does not appear just because the Mary Sue has everything.

* [=~So Beautiful, It's A Curse~=][[{{Tradesnark}} ™]]. While being beautiful isn't a qualifier of MarySue (who ''wants'' to be ugly?), it's a bit excessive to try and play it as being some sort of disadvantage. Alternatively she may only be SuetifulAllAlong. In an AntiSue, this is reversed into a hideous monster. Regardless, her astounding beauty (or astounding lack of it) will make her stand out from the crowd - [[InformedAttractiveness or so we're constantly being told]].

** KaleidoscopeEyes. Seeing it in text is practically an instant MarySue qualifier.
** Eyes the color of gem stones. Not only emeralds or sapphires, but also more unheard of eye colours like, for example, amethyst. Bonus points for [[BoatLights Boat Light eyes]]

** But note that Silver/White Hair isn't really considered all [[WhiteHairedPrettyBoy that]] [[WhiteHairedPrettyGirl unusual]] in some fiction. (this depends on the work)

* She'll often wear [[{{Stripperiffic}} revealing outfits]] with tons of gems, FrillsOfJustice, and other extraneous details, even if it may be difficult or impossible to find such an outfit in the world (or be well outside of her realistic price bracket).

--> [[RapeAsBackstory Rape]] or Molestation - [[RapeIsTheNewDeadParents]]. Most notable when it's given just as a cursory excuse for... well, whatever. A real Sue will shout it out, "I WAS RAPED!" she'll scream, and that is supposed to explain everything.

--> ParentalAbandonment - usually for being too powerful, or for being too spunky and independent.
--> HeartwarmingOrphan - plane crashes and car accidents are increasingly common ways to make her [[ItsAllMyFault feel responsible]], without actually doing anything ''wrong.''
--> [[RapeAsBackstory Rape]] or Molestation - especially when [[RapeIsTheNewDeadParents given less than a paragraph in the whole story]].

* [=~So Beautiful, It's A Curse~=][[{{Tradesnark}} ?]]. While being beautiful isn't a qualifier of MarySue (who ''wants'' to be ugly?), it's a bit excessive to try and play it as being some sort of disadvantage. Alternatively she may only be SuetifulAllAlong. In an AntiSue, this is reversed into a hideous monster. Regardless, her astounding beauty (or astounding lack of it) will make her stand out from the crowd - [[InformedAttractiveness or so we're constantly being told]].

* May have some overly long, complicated, usually MeaningfulName that [[StevenUlyssesPerhero relates to her abilities or personality]] - whether this is usual in canon or not.