.....think as her about Charlotte. I don't really want to push this any further, I understand that you really doesn't aprove Charlotte's choice, but I just feel the need to say something in favour of pour Charlotte, because I really really like this character.

In my opinion, the book lead us to believe that for Charlotte is better to be married to Mr. Collins than to be an old maid at home. She foresees her happier this way. I agree that Charlotte thinks Mr. Collins is silly, but I also think she doesn't see him in a so bad light as Lizzy does, and yes, probably because she doesn't want to (looking in other direcction when he makes/says something stupid) in order to be as much happy as possible, but also because she is not Lizzy and as she tells her:

"Why should you be surprised, my dear Eliza? Do you think it incredible that Mr. Collins should be able to procure any woman's good opinion, because he was not so happy as to succeed with you?"

She knows Mr. Collins is not the man of her life but she's trying to make the best of it and maybe not only because the "economical" thing. Maybe she want to have family, children and is not that she has had or would have a lot of opportunities to do it. And even if is just for the selfish dream of be independent and have her own home I don't see that a very bad thing because she is not deceiving or hurting anyone. Mr. Collins is not marrying her because he's blind of love. Their concept of matrimony is not the same as Lizzy's (no the same as ours) But they both feel right about it.
Well yes, she hurts Lizzys feelings because she discovers that Charlotte is not what she thought, but I also think that this at last lead their to know each other better and to built their future relationship over that knowledge.

And as for their life together I can't see harm there, in fact I see that is a very very good thing for the world that such a silly man who has (and wolud have) so many responsibilities over others is married to a very practical intelligent woman. I can't belive that Charlotte will look in other direcction if Mr. Collins does something really, really wrong (like being an unkind landlord or something like that). I don't she Charlotte as a Mr. Bennet, not trying to improve her partner. In fact (IMO) we are intented to believe that Charlotte has influence in Mr. Collins, or at least has enough power over him as to have her way when she desires it (like when she is the one to tell Lizzy she is engaged, and when she introduces her father, sister and Lizzy to Lady Catherine). I take her statement of:
it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life." in the context of it, that is better not know the defects before you married, not that you ignore it all your life, she also says They always continue to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to have their share of vexation.

Charlotte desires to be happy with Mr.Collins. Desiring something doesn't mean that you are going to be, but is a start, a much better start than Lizzy would had by marring Mr.Collins (as she herself says:You could not make me happy, and I am convinced that I am the last woman in the world who would make you so. Nay, were your friend Lady Catherine to know me, I am persuaded she would find me in every respect ill qualified for the situation." )

Bottom line: IMO Charlote is the best judge to say what is better or worse for her. We can or cannot agree about it but it always be an opinion of what we would do if we were on her shoes.

Buff, very very long, sorry!! I hope you all be kind to me because English is not my mother tongue and sometimes is difficult to express my thouhgts. Thank you for reading! ;D