I've read somewhere that marrying Collins could actually have been quite a triumph for Charlotte -- she's the only female character in JA who married a younger man! There's nothing against his physical appearance in canon -- he is tall, Darcy is also tall. Collins' is a gentleman by birth and profession, his present income is described as very sufficient, with good prospects of future wealth. What made him so unattractive was his stupidity, but for a woman who might prefer a husband she could guide and did not mind not being able to look up to him, she would be very content. At the end of P&P, we could see Charlotte's influence over Collins -- she managed to get him away from an angry Lady Cat and support Eliz and Darcy instead over their engagement.
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