Pride and Prejudice vs. Avatar

WARNING: MAY CONTAIN SPOLIERS!!!!!

“Zutara is a crackship: plain and simple.”

"They only ship Katara because she's a traditional 'pretty girl' and Zuko is the hot guy."

"Anyone who ships Zutara is watching Avatar with their butts. Blindfolded."

"Oh, fandom. You amuse me so. Show me the 'evidence' that Zutara is going to happen. It reveals a complete ignorance of how literature works."

Zutaraians, have you heard those words? Kataangers and Maikoans, have you ever said those words? (I mock you with your lack of new ideas of bashing someone.) I don’t know about you, but that sounds familiar to something else. Darcybeth from Pride and Prejudice. The “crackship” as it were.

"It's fine if you want to ship Darcybeth in fanon. I have no problems with that. Just don't say that Darcybeth is going to become cannon."

"But Darcy and Elizabeth hate each other."

"How can you not see the epic love between Wickham and Elizabeth???"

"Darcybeth will never, ever happen."</i>

That last one, gets me every time! Think that is all they have in common? Think again! Darcybeth and Zutara have more in common than just those words. In fact Avatar and Pride and Prejudice have so many similarities between ships and characters, I’m wondering if the creators just decided to make an animated version of the book for kids, only with more action and a different setting.


DarcyAnne vs. Maiko

"Darcy is clearly in love with ANNE. They were childhood sweethearts. Darcy is upper class, Elizabeth is the daughter of a simple country squire. Anne is type of wife that Darcy needs. She understands the kind of world that they were born into. He is proud and highstrung; Anne is quiet and cool. They balance one another. AND THEY'RE ENGAGED."

If this isn’t Maiko, I don’t know what is. Darcy and Anne are from the same background, same class, everything; as is Mai and Zuko. It would appear like the perfect match. Darcy and Anne are even engaged! Mai and Zuko might have well been, as close as they were. But, do they really end up together?

Before I answer that, I have to say how much Mai and Anne are alike. (I think it’s kind of funny how they describe both girls.) Both of them are classified as the “dark, gloomy, boring girls” which is true. They are. (Sorry Maifanboys, but she is.) They are the girls “destined” for the lead *hot* male. They have the upper class and breading that make them perfect for him.

Now, do they happen in the end? With so much evidence for both ships, you would think so. But no. They don’t. In DarcyAnne, Darcy showed lack of interest in Anne. He showed where his real feelings were. (see Darcybeth for more explanation)

And Maiko, well that’s completely over. Mai said it herself it was. *SPOLIER* “I’m saving the jerk who dumped me!” Mai admited they were over. And Zuko, Zuko said he cared more for his country than he did Mai. What? You mean they aren’t together anymore? After all this evidence, they aren’t together? Shocker, I know. Zuko knew his destiny was not with Mai. The same with Darcy and Anne.


Wichkambeth vs. Jetara

I have no idea why people think Mr. Wichkam is like Aang. If you knew the story, you’d know he is like Jet. And notice how they both start out. Innocent flirting, playful banter, look of the eyes, “saving” the girl, etc. They also share a bond of hatred towards someone. And it’s right away. They don’t waste time explaining the background.

In Mr. Whichkam’s case, he explains how Mr. Darcy hurt him personally. Elizabeth automatically feels a connection with him because she too was hurt by his pride. They have directly or indirectly have been hurt by the same person or group. And because of that, the connection between them grows.

In Jet’s case, he explains how the fire nation hurt him personally, destroying his family. Katara understands his pain because she too has gone thru the same thing. And to them, who represents the fire nation? Zuko. They have both been hurt by Zuko, not only by his nation, but by him personally. Later on, we see how betrayed Katara was by Zuko and how Jet was also hurt by Zuko.

And because of this connection, you would think that they would have a realationship that would last. However, the he betrays her. He hurts her where she no longer trusts him anymore. She doesn’t believe his lies anymore. Clearly shown when they met back up again later.

In Mr. Whickham’s case, he used Elizabeth’s compasion against her. He led her to believe that Darcy was nothing more than a traitor, a horrible man when it was Whickham who was that all along. Whickham even takes Elizabeth’s sister, claiming to marry her but only does so after he is paid.

For Jet, he used Katara’s hate of the fire nation to convience her to flood the dam. She followed his words, only to find out it was used to destroy the town. And when she found out, she attacked him, literally. She was not happy and we also saw that when she saw him once again. When she attacked.

Collinsbeth vs. Kataang

This one cracks me every time. Mr. Collins shows his interest in Elizabeth more than once, even stalking her. Wait, stalking? Doesn’t that sound like Aang’s obsession with Katara? I think it does. (Sorry guys, but Aang is obsessed with Katara. Learn to deal with that now.)

Obviously the relationship is one-sided. We can clearly see where the male of the relationship “loves” the girl. However, she is not as concerned with him. She doesn’t view him as the same. She views him as a family member. In Elizabeth’s case, Mr. Collins was a cousin and was always view as just that. In Katara’s case, Aang is treated as her son or as a younger brother.

And when the feelings are shown, what happens? For Elizabeth, she clearly rejects him. “You could not make me happy and I am convinced that I am the last woman in the world who would make you so… I thank you again and again for the honour you have done me in your proposals, but to accept them is absolutely impossible. My feelings in every respect forbid it.” Obviously she has no problem expressing her feelings when the time came. She evidently did not feel the same that Mr. Collins did.

And Katara? So far, all we have seen is the one scene from when Aang kissed her. That look to the side of guilt says it all. She does not feel the same way as he did. But did she say anything? No, she didn’t. Because there was no time. But, thanks to the new trailer, we see Katara’s reaction of another kiss. She backs away in shock. Even looking over Aang’s head. Does this imply she likes him? That she feels the same way for him? No, it does not.


Darcybeth vs. Zutara

This is my favorite. (Save the best for last! XD) What is interesting to note about these two is that there is practically no evidence for it to start with. Even though I knew exactly what was going to happen, I was still shocked when Darcy proposed to Elizabeth when I first read the book. How could he like her? Where was the evidence for it? And I know some of you Kataangers are saying that about Zutara. But let’s see what these two really have in common.

Really, there is nothing in the beginning to support the ships unless you really look at the situation. Darcy even insults Elizabeth. “She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to temp me; and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me.” And Zuko calls Katara peasant enough times, insulting her in any way he can. But, wait? They are supposed to be together?

Not to mention, they both have someone else they are attached to. Early on Elizabeth knows Darcy is engaged to Anne. And we all know Mai and Zuko were together. And they were with someone who was from the same background, who understood them, so naturally, it appeared it would have worked out.

But no, it didn’t. We saw an interest in something or someone else more so. In Darcy’s case, he loved Elizabeth more. It didn’t matter that his Aunt threatened to remove any amount of money he might have received. And Zuko, he told Mai which mattered more to him. *Spoiler!* He told Mai he loved his country more than her. He was willing to leave Mai to save his country. Which do you think was more important?

As the story continues, we see more into his side of the story. We began to feel for him, understanding him more so. With Zuko, we see why he acts the way he does, why he has his scar. With Darcy, we see why Whickham doesn’t like him, why he can be classified as “prideful”. We even see a betrayal. Darcy separated two people in love, one of which was Elizabeth’s sister. Zuko earned Katara’s trust and destroyed it by joining Azula.

Something else I love is how strong these women are. They don’t back down. They stand up for themselves and voice their opinions strongly. No matter whom that person may be.

“From the very beginning, from the moment, I almost say, of my acquaintance with you, your manners impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain of the feelings of others, were such as to form the groundwork of disapprobation on which succeeding events have built so immovable a dislike; and I had not known you a month before I felt you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry.” -Elizabeth to Darcy.

Wait! I don’t know about you, but that just screams the WAT threat from Katara.

“You might have everyone else here buying your transformation, but you and I both know you struggled with doing the right thing in the past. So let me tell you something right now. You make one step backward, one slip-up, give me one reason you might hurt Aang and you won’t have to worry about your destiny anymore. Because I’ll make sure you’re destiny ends right then and there. Permanently.” –Katara to Zuko.

No, it might not have been the same exact words, but the feeling was the same. And yet, these two are meant to be together? Yes, they are. There might have been a little rough patch there, but eventually, she comes around. She sees the good in him. And he, he works at forgiveness and redemption in her eyes. Both in the cases of Zutara and Darcybeth. Because he cares for her.

Darcy willingly helps Elizabeth and her family out. Even helping to hide scandal from the one person he truly hates. He humbles himself for her. Zuko humbles himself in order to join the Avatar. He endures Katara’s threats and her rude comments. All the while says nothing. In both cases, she comes around. Elizabeth sees the good in Darcy. What about Katara? Again, we look to the trailer to see Katara embrace Zuko in a warming hug. And if she truly hated him, why would she do that?

And what happens in the end? Which couple actually succeeds? For those who have read or seen Pride and Prejudice, you know. I’m not spoiling it for anyone who hasn’t. And Avatar, well, Kataangs/Maikoans, be prepared for a Zutara ending.