OOP Mary-Sue or not?

[maisaura2 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 64668

In a message dated 6/26/03 9:56:24 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
Shef writes:
> > Tonks... She gets on my nerves for some reason... can't place 
> why... 
> > I think she reminds me too much of all the Mary-Sues in fanfiction.
> 
And BedLimpet at aol.com responds:
> I didn't find Tonks irritating at all and I was surprised to find that so 
> many other people did. I don't think she's a Mary-Sue type either . . . I 
> felt 
> that as a raw recruit, as yet untouched and unchanged by war, she balances 
> the 
> experienced, war hardened Moody's more cynical attitude. It will be 
> interesting 
> to see if JKR developes her further and if so, how much she changes.

I have now seen this Mary Sue epithet pop up in several different places, and 
the accusation has been leveled at both Tonks and Luna, that they are, in 
short or in long, attempts by JKR to write herself into the books as a female 
character.

I am troubled by this accusation, for I see no basis for it at all.  Really, 
it's just a character that someone finds annoying, and so they label her as a 
Mary Sue.  The typical Mary Sue, first seen in Star Trek fan fic, I believe, 
in 1972 or thereabouts, involved a perfect woman, with perfect skills, a 
physical description not unlike that of the authoress but gorgeous, who is rammed 
into the story for the sole purpose of engendering passionate feelings in main 
characters. Mary Sue is so well known in the Harry Potter universe that she has 
merited her own essay:

http://writersu.s5.com/history/msl03.html
The prevalence of Mary Sue in fan fic is unfortunate, for it makes a 
dissatisfied reader label the first female character she doesn't like as a Mary Sue.
  
To fall into the trap of arguing the point for a moment, I see little to none 
of the Mary Sue traits in either Tonks or Luna (well, except for the one 
about hair color being important, as Tonks' is always changing.  However, it's 
never exactly luxurious auburn tresses now, is it?  

What bothers me most about this accusation is that it is so unfair to a 
respected, talented, and professional author.  Any author puts part of herself or 
himself into a a character.  Every character is an amalgam of traits, some 
which the author admires, some less so.  Some experiences are drawn upon.  Cha
racters are a tapestry of inspiration, personal experience, creativity, and well, 
boring as it is, research.  Yes, characters are parts of their creators, but 
if that was where it ended, every character would be the same, now wouldn't 
she?

You want to see where JKR has inserted herself into the books?  Well, I think 
we need look no further than in the views expressed repeatedly regarding 
house elf enslavement, mudbloods, half breeds, and werewolves.  We see JKR's views 
of education when we observe how Umbridge twists it to serve political ends.  
We see JKR's moral philosophy in the oft repeated stated that it is our 
choices that make us who we are.  

That's not Mary Sue.  That's good writing.

T.
The Good Mother Lizard


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