but I certainly resonate to the over all point--if not pushed to marry Mr. Collins, then someone equally distressing to Elizabeth. I took the idea behind Karen G's comment to mean how much harder it would have been for Elizabeth to refuse an offer she abhorred if her only parent (or both of them for that matter) was pushing her to marry that person, for reasons of their own. Without having the support of an equally strong 'guardian', as Elizabeth did, she might not have felt the option to resist was within her power. It's lucky for Elizabeth (and the story!) she was her father's favorite!