Understanding perceptions of idealized characters through a comprehensive analysis of feedback on Mary Sue novels

Abstract

This thesis conducts a comprehensive analysis of the perceptions surrounding idealized characters, specifically focusing on the Mary Sue archetype in literary works. The term Mary Sues refers to characters often seen as overly idealized without credible flaws, serving as projections of the author’s fantasies. This research explores how such characters serve as mirrors reflecting social dynamics both in the creative process and the reception by the audience. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the study analyzes feedback from various online platforms, primarily Goodreads, where readers discuss and critique Mary Sue novels. The analysis includes qualitative content analysis and quantitative data analytics to dissect how readers perceive and interact with Mary Sue characters. The research identifies common traits and tropes associated with these characters and examines changes in reader perceptions over time, focusing on the decoding of judgments through a lexicon of character traits developed for this study. Findings reveal that while Mary Sue characters often engage readers due to their predictability and familiarity, they also attract criticism for reinforcing gender roles and societal expectations. The thesis discusses the implications of these findings for content creators and recommends strategies for narrative construction that can engage diverse audiences without perpetuating harmful stereotypes. This contributes to broader discussions in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and social norms in literary analysis.

Date of Award	2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Supervisor	Xiaojuan MA (Supervisor)