Hum, didn't notice that someone responded to me for a long time, so this is rather late ...
Please, no! Basing a character on aspects of yourself does not a Mary Sue make.
Um, I didn't really mean that I think that Hermione nothing but a Mary Sue. I realize that people will always use their own personal experience as a basis for their writing. It's the same for me; I couldn't write a story from a popular character's POV.
However, I do think that Hermione has certain aspects of a Mary Sue. 1) She's super-intelligent. 2) A famous guy has a crush on her. 3) She can transform herself into a beauty when she so chooses. Honestly, I never really considered Hermione to be much of a Mary Sue until Goblet of Fire when the last two things happen. Those are wish-fulfillment and as such, very Mary Sue-like traits.
What has always balanced these characteristics is Hermione's flaws and her hard work. She's bossy and she does act like a know-it-all. While she's intelligent, she studies very hard to get where she is (I don't buy into the "Hermione is the most talented female at Hogwarts" theory). She's also (IMO) very insecure and these insecurities influence the above things. A Mary Sue does not have flaws so Hermione can't be a 100% Mary Sue.
Of course, given what happens in GoF during the ball, I think that it would be very easy for Hermione to become so. I hope she doesn't. I'm not a Hermione fan. She can annoy me but I don't dislike her.
Fanfic Hermione is another case altogether. Fanfic Hermione Sue (especially in Harry/Hermione or Snape/Hermione fic) is usually beautiful, more intelligent and powerful than 99.9% of the population and flawless. I hate Hermione Sue.
But are you really going to describe a 6ft 2 male cricketer as a teenage girl's mary Sue?
Why not? If they're flawless and perfect -- be they male or female, it could be a Mary Sue or a Gary Stu.
no subject
Please, no! Basing a character on aspects of yourself does not a Mary Sue make.
Um, I didn't really mean that I think that Hermione nothing but a Mary Sue. I realize that people will always use their own personal experience as a basis for their writing. It's the same for me; I couldn't write a story from a popular character's POV.
However, I do think that Hermione has certain aspects of a Mary Sue. 1) She's super-intelligent. 2) A famous guy has a crush on her. 3) She can transform herself into a beauty when she so chooses. Honestly, I never really considered Hermione to be much of a Mary Sue until Goblet of Fire when the last two things happen. Those are wish-fulfillment and as such, very Mary Sue-like traits.
What has always balanced these characteristics is Hermione's flaws and her hard work. She's bossy and she does act like a know-it-all. While she's intelligent, she studies very hard to get where she is (I don't buy into the "Hermione is the most talented female at Hogwarts" theory). She's also (IMO) very insecure and these insecurities influence the above things. A Mary Sue does not have flaws so Hermione can't be a 100% Mary Sue.
Of course, given what happens in GoF during the ball, I think that it would be very easy for Hermione to become so. I hope she doesn't. I'm not a Hermione fan. She can annoy me but I don't dislike her.
Fanfic Hermione is another case altogether. Fanfic Hermione Sue (especially in Harry/Hermione or Snape/Hermione fic) is usually beautiful, more intelligent and powerful than 99.9% of the population and flawless. I hate Hermione Sue.
But are you really going to describe a 6ft 2 male cricketer as a teenage girl's mary Sue?
Why not? If they're flawless and perfect -- be they male or female, it could be a Mary Sue or a Gary Stu.
I hope this makes sense.