Compare and contrast Elizabeth's response to the marriage proposals of Mr. Collins and Mr. Darcy. What effects have these proposals created?in...

It's always been ironic to me that Elizabeth, the
brightest and most savvy of the Bennet girls, so clearly sees Mr. Collins's proposal as
loveless and merely expedient--yet she fails to recognize that Mr. Darcy's offer of
marriage is genuine and based on love.

Both proposals are
rather abrupt and even business-like; both offers are rebuffed by Elizabeth,  though she
is perfectly content with that answer only in the case of Mr. Collins.  After her
ranting and raving (and Darcy's thunderous leave-taking), Elizabeth is forced to
reconsider her position and face her own emotions when she receives a letter from her
future husband.  She has no such second thoughts and undergoes no emotional examination
after the first proposal--because, of course, there were no emotions
involved. 

Both offers are unexpected, in part for the same
reason--before their proposals, Elizabeth had no indication that either man feels any
kind of love for her.  Her exchanges with Mr. Collins were insipid compared to the
fireworks which inevitably resulted from time spent with Mr. Darcy, but neither kind of
encounter reflected love.  At some point, of course, Darcy has realized this is the kind
of relationship he wants for the rest of his life--money and position or not.  It takes
Elizabeth longer to get there, probably because the figurative "step up" for her is more
difficult to contemplate than the figurative "step down" is for
Darcy.

Elizabeth, who has thought of herself as being
relatively open-minded and not as particularly class-conscious, is offered two potential
lives.  With Mr. Collins, aside from the lack of love, she knows she would always
be made to feel as if she should be grateful for the gift of his name.  She knew that
was not the life for her--and sees it first-hand later in the
novel.

With Mr. Darcy, despite his wealth and position in
society, Elizabeth eventually realizes she will be his equal in all the ways that
matter.  It takes them both a while to get there; however, once they overcome their
pride and prjudice, theirs will be a match of love.