I probably should have known about this concept, given that a) I was an English major and b) my mom's name is Mary Sue.
It's fun to read this paragraph with my mom in mind:
Mary Sues have more and better skills than other characters in the story and easily solve problems that stump other characters. Young Mary Sues often have skills or accomplishments that are substantially greater than those of other characters their age and of the vast majority of people their age in the real world. Mary Sues are presented as more moral than other characters and frequently sacrifice their lives or happiness for the sake of other characters. They often have moral ideas that are common in the Western world today but unusual for the setting of the story. They are normally exceptionally attractive.
