Re: Mary Sue Appreciation Thread
Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2005 2:32 am
Also completely describes Alexander the Great. 
Selfish, probably? Petty-minded? Most assuredly Not. Perhaps meglomaniac, but the "conquered to spread democracy and civilization" sort of meglomania.
Unifying the known world counts as strong justification for years of warfare.
Solved the Gordian Knot when nobody else could, conquered the known world before dying young, etc.
Seems distinctive to me, although scholars are still arguing about his hair color (wait, isn't changing hair/eye color another trait of Mary Sues?)
Bucephalos was untamable before Alexander.
I think sticking "The Great" on the end makes it deliberately exotic.
Irrelevant to historical character
Does having a foreign princess and cultist for a mother count? What about one that fell out of favor with the father and was exiled later in life?
If not, how about claiming to be the son of Zeus, and having his mother back it up? What about then also having an Egyptian high priest assert that he's the son of Amon-Ra?
Those seem pretty 21st century to me.
Tutored by Aristotle.
Um, if by "story" you mean the history of the ancient world in the 4th century BC, then yes.
Conquered the known world by the age of 32, defeated armies much bigger than his, ranks as one of the greatest military geniuses of all time, etc.
What a fucking hack.

rapanui at [unixtime wrote:1106875291[/unixtime]]
* Has only sympathetic flaws; Mary Sues may be paraplegic, or dangerously naïve, but are very rarely selfish or petty-minded
Selfish, probably? Petty-minded? Most assuredly Not. Perhaps meglomaniac, but the "conquered to spread democracy and civilization" sort of meglomania.
* Can do no wrong. Or, if she does do anything wrong, has strong justification for it.
Unifying the known world counts as strong justification for years of warfare.
* Unique abilities
Solved the Gordian Knot when nobody else could, conquered the known world before dying young, etc.
* Distinctive physical features (odd-coloured eyes, birthmarks, scars etc)
a translation of Plutarch wrote:
Alexander the son of Philip is reported to have possessed a natural beauty: his hair was wavy and fair.
Seems distinctive to me, although scholars are still arguing about his hair color (wait, isn't changing hair/eye color another trait of Mary Sues?)
* Unusual pet (especially, 'one only she could tame')
Bucephalos was untamable before Alexander.
* Deliberately exotic name
I think sticking "The Great" on the end makes it deliberately exotic.
* Name based on that of her author
Irrelevant to historical character
* Cultural/racial background very different from her peers (often adopted out of her culture)
Does having a foreign princess and cultist for a mother count? What about one that fell out of favor with the father and was exiled later in life?
If not, how about claiming to be the son of Zeus, and having his mother back it up? What about then also having an Egyptian high priest assert that he's the son of Amon-Ra?
* 21st-century attitudes in a setting where these are unheard-of
from http://www.fsmitha.com/h1/ch11.htm wrote:
Aristotle had advised Alexander to turn those non-Greeks he defeated into slaves, but Alexander had begun a policy of winning their respect and cooperation.
same wrote:
He hoped to create a new loyalty across the lands he had conquered and a new feeling among his subjects that they belonged to a world outside their home town.
Those seem pretty 21st century to me.
* Close relationship with a major canonical character (long-lost brother, etc)
Tutored by Aristotle.
* Centrally involved in every part of the story
Um, if by "story" you mean the history of the ancient world in the 4th century BC, then yes.
* Invokes powers impossible in the canon
Conquered the known world by the age of 32, defeated armies much bigger than his, ranks as one of the greatest military geniuses of all time, etc.
What a fucking hack.