Question 1
Mr. Collins reasons for marriage would be judged differently now than the Eighteenth Century because marriage is based on a different nature than how it used to be. Mr. Collins wants to marry for an economics purpose rather than for the love and attraction that he should have for his wife.
During this time period it was recognized that woman married a wealthy man in order to sustain herself, while men married for different reasons.However, when two people get married and don't have an attraction for each other the marriage doesn't work out well. This is why in modern times if a man and a woman don't get married out of attraction and love for one another, a divorce usually ends up taking place.
Austen tries to give the point that marriages take time and must be built on mutual feelings, understanding, commitment, and respect. Hasty marriages acting on impulse and based on superficial qualities will not survive and will lead to inevitable unhappiness.
Question 2:
Mr.Collins takes Elizabeth's rejection seriously for many reasons. First of all, he really fancied her and didn't think he would ever be rejected. However, the fact that he was rejected hurt him the most.
Collins assumes that Elizabeth is truly attracted towards him but she is just playing hard to get.He feels that all woman do that in the convential manner of being a young woman and that she actually wants to marry him. Elizabeth in return replies that she is not a conventional young woman and doesn't enjoy the fact that she was proposed twice. She then finalizes it by making it clear to him that the rejection is official and she will not change her mind.
Collins on the other hand doesn't seem to be able to take no for an answer and has a hard time accepting her rejection. He tells her that the next time that he asks her to marry, she will accept. When he finally gets the hint that she doesn't want him, it sinks into his mind and feels hurt as well as embarrassed.
