What do the proposals of Mr Collins and Mr Darcy to Elizabeth and her decisions about them say about the gender/class politics of the novel's society?

Mr. Collins, in his proposal to Elizabeth, clearly
articulates his reasons for marrying.
He enumerates the motivations that have encouraged him to offer the marriage proposal.
He does not, however, request any such reason from Elizabeth. He expects that she will
gratefully accept his offer since, upon her father’s death, he will inherit all of her
family’s property. Elizabeth, as a woman, has an unfortunate and unenviable family
situation. She is one of five daughters. With no sons to inherit his property, it will
be dispensed through an entailment, which means that his oldest male relative will
inherit his complete estate. Mr. Collins, therefore, confidently assumes that she has no
choice but to accept him. 

Likewise, when Mr. Darcy
proposes to Elizabeth, he makes little effort to appeal to her heart. Rather, he
expresses self-contempt because he has been unable to properly suppress his romantic
feelings for her. Elizabeth’s position in society is beneath him and he feels that he
has lowered himself by becoming too thoroughly acquainted with her. He, too, expects her
to be flattered by the proposal. He knows that she has no reason to have wished for the
attentions of a man such as himself.