... by the denigrators of Charlotte and her choice of life. Thanks, Aaron and Silvia, and others in other threads.

Charlotte has made her decision within her own world. She has chosen a marriage in which she has every right to expect a good deal of influence over her life: an option she otherwise does not have.

She has rejected JA's choice of nearly total dependence upon the benevolence of prosperous brothers. Yes, JA wrote books, for which she received (I've read) less than L10,000 during 20 or so years of work; without her brothers, though, she would have been quite poor. Charlotte has no such benefit.

She has married a man much her inferior, but we've already seen that he can be manipulated when necessary; I firmly believe she's also setting him a good example -- which may or may not improve him, but still, she's setting it.

She has adopted the contemporary principle of mutual support without excessive regard for the Romantic Ideal of emotional fervor, which is as deceptive as it is appealing (as our society has learned to its tremendous detriment).

In spite of Lizzy's initial petulant outburst, she's clear-headed enough to see that Charlotte is doing a good job, both for herself, and, I think, for Collins. I'm convinced Charlotte's family will turn out fine.