I have often heard that Bella is a Mary Sue.
First off, I've never had a Mary Sue explained to me in the same way twice. From what I gathered this is what it means:
Mary Sue is a character who has no flaws or her flaws make her endearing. She is a "perfect" character that is supposed to be the culmination of the author's self-desires.
I cannot agree that Bella fits this definition. Her clumsiness is endearing, but she is also stubborn, untrusting, and oftentimes wrong.
I don't think I really have a grasp on what a Mary Sue is though.
So, I ask you:
What is a Mary Sue to you?
Is Bella a Mary Sue?
Does it matter?
My understanding of "Mary Sue" is that is originated in fan fiction, particularly in the genre of fantasy. The "Mary Sue" character is a stand-in for the author. To be a Mary sue, the character has to be physically beautiful, often with unusual traits no one else has. In addition, the Mary Sue character often has special powers that render her invincible. Mary Sues have no real flaws.
ReplyDeleteThere is some controversy whether a "canon" character can actually be called a "Mary Sue," but a lot of canon characters are being called that now, so that debate is fairly academic.
I do not believe Bella is a Mary Sue. The criticism, as far as I can tell, largely stems from the initial reaction the boys of Forks have to her, Edward's adoration of her, Jacob's adoration of her, etc. Each of these things, I believe, is well-explained by the plot. I don't see any of them as justification for the label.
Bella has many flaws, some of which she knows and acknowledges, some of which she seems not to understand.
The only part of the series, I believe, where Bella strays into Mary Sue territory is the last section of Breaking Dawn, where she becomes the best vampire ever. However, I believe Bella was destined to become this super-vampire all along, so I think it's a legitimate part of the canon, not wish-fulfillment on the part of the author.
My ultimate Mary Sue example: Ayla in the Earth's Children series by Jean Auel.
ReplyDelete* Any man Ayla meets not only falls in love with her, he is willing to give up everything to be with her.
* No one has ever met a woman who looks like Ayla; to everyone they meet she is "exotic" looking
* She single-handedly domesticates the horse, cat, and dog; invents the needle and thread; discovers how to make fire with flint; is the most gifted healer anyone has ever seen; is the most amazing hunter anyone has ever seen; etc.
In the entire series, I have yet to come across Ayla's flaws.
See, Bella is only beautiful to Edward - she's rather plain looking to everyone else.
ReplyDeleteAnd not EVERY guy in the school goes ga-ga over her. Three do. Which is explained by her being the only girl there they didn't grow up with.
So, yeah, not seeing Mary Sue haha
It's funny, the criticism I'm thinking of is very specific, and tends to oversimplify/exaggerate. One of the criticisms I'm thinking of is that Bella refuses to have anything to do with anyone who isn't beautiful. Meritless and ridiculous in my opinion, but apparently because Bella describes what people look like, she's vain and shallow. Yikes.
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't see Mary Sue.
My concern is that some definitions of a Mary Sue are so broad that any protagonist who is written to be likable is a Mary Sue... which is not good since I want my protagonists likable!
ReplyDeleteI maintain that any first-person narrator *can* be called a Mary Sue, just due to the nature of that type of prose. I think there is legitimate criticism of Bella as a character, but she's not a Mary Sue.
ReplyDeleteYeah that's the thing - I completely understand criticisms of Bella as a character - honestly, I do. I may not agree, but I see how you could take it that way.
ReplyDeleteHowever, many times a discussion of her character degenerates into "She's a Mary Sue!" and I get a definition that really doesn't apply (such as a stand in for the author, everybody loves her, she is completely unflawed except to make her more appealing).
When I explain why that doesn't work, the definition magically gets expanded to include things MOST protagonists go through.
Wikipedia definition of a Mary Sue: "Mary Sue, sometimes shortened simply to Sue, is a pejorative term used to describe a fictional character who plays a major role in the plot" (aka a protagonist) "and is particularly characterized by overly idealized and hackneyed mannerisms" (I don't think anyone can say Bella has idealized mannerisms) "lacking noteworthy flaws" (she has plenty), "and primarily functioning as wish-fulfillment fantasies for their authors or readers" (not really sure this works either - readers may want to be Bella, but not everyone would want to act the way Bella did, KWIM? They want Edward, but not really anything else that comes with it) "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." (definitely not) "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'."
ReplyDeleteSo i have to conclude that it is an inaccurate application to Bella.
I agree, with all of it :) I don't think I have much to add.
ReplyDeleteErr.... all of you guys, I mean, not all of the claims of Bella being a Mary Sue. ;)
ReplyDeleteSorry, but Bella does fall under the catagory of 'lacking noteworthy flaws'. There is a major difference between a 'fatal flaw' and an 'informed flaw', and noteworthy flaws fall under the first catagory, not the second. She's rarely, if ever, hindered by these so called flaws of hers, and also... some of them are only seen by herself, and not the characters around her. It's not good to get these things mixed up.
ReplyDeleteWhile she also isn't an idealized character, she does have hackneyed ones. Meaning that they are lacking in freshness or originality, trite. Her clumsyness is one of these mannerisms, as is her sterotypical depressive manner, which is only true about a select few people out there.
As for wish-fullfillment, perhaps you ladies, who seem quite sensible wouldn't see yourself as Bella, but I have seen comments from people who say, 'she's just like me', and other such comments, floating around on the net. There are people wishing they were her, even if it is just so they can have Edward. That is wishfull-fillment. If one can imagine one is her though, there is some wishfull fillment there.
Though I think the most wishfull-fillment lies in the fact, Bella is an author avatar of Meyer. She looks like Meyer, in an idealized way. Simply look at the cover of the graphic novel, to see what I mean there. She gets the perfect husband in the end, and the perfect child, a girl she can have as her best friend.
As for this quote... "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." Well, Meyers does favor Bella... there is that or there... and ostentatious means showy...
Bella has guys fall for her too easy, even though she is plain. True, the new girl thing might be a vibe for some guy, but I really don't think that is really what it is, when the three guys are all asking her to a dance that the GIRLS are supposed to ask the guys. That becomes showy, doesn't it?
As for the vampire thing, that is what turns her into a mondo Sue. It would be one thing, if she was turned into a normal vampire like the others. However, she gets a personality change, when it is clearly stated that Edward couldn't mature past when he got changed, which is the excuse for a lot of his behavior, and she also isn't tempted by blood. Those ARE Sue traits.
Wikipedia is truthfully not the best sourse on what a Mary Sue is. I suggest taking a good look at tvtroupes, as it does a much better job.
Now I come to the question, why does whether or not a character a Mary Sue ever matter? To write a Mary Sue, means that one has problems with character development, thus when one begins to write a non-sue character, they begin to have better work. In fact, this works even if it is a less of a sue character. Yes... there are varing degrees...
Also, to some point, all characters are going to be author avatar's of the writer. There is always going to be some wish fullfillment in any given work of fiction. That being said, there is also a point where it is just that, and there is no other, extra merit in it. As someone said, a good candy read is fine now and then, but it is good to read other stuff too.