Final answer:
Mr. Collins pursues Elizabeth as a wife because he is rejected by Jane and believes Elizabeth to be more available, highlighting the importance of marriage as a means of securing financial and social stability for women in Regency England.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mr. Collins decides to pursue Elizabeth for his wife instead of Jane in 'Pride and Prejudice' because he is rejected by Jane and sees Elizabeth as a more attainable match. This situation illustrates the societal norms and motivations surrounding marriage during the Regency era depicted in the novel.
Mr. Collins seeks to marry one of the Bennet sisters due to the entailed estate, meaning the property must go to a male heir, and he feels marrying a Bennet daughter would somewhat compensate for inheriting their father's property. After Mr. Bingley's attention towards Jane becomes apparent, making her less available, Mr. Collins shifts his focus to Elizabeth.
While the context of the novel might suggest reasons like physical attraction or persuasion by others, the correct answer is D) He is rejected by Jane and sees Elizabeth as a more attainable match.
Elizabeth's realistic views and her often critical take on her society's fixation on marriage highlight the constraints on women to secure financial stability and social status through matrimony, a central theme of the novel.