Missing as answer the possibility to say neither (and when asking for one or the other should make clear in a poll, what no and what yes means, because I don’t know if yes = more sympathetic, no = less sympathetic, or if it is the other way around. Just a little tip for next time ;))
Sympathy in the sense of liking Cora more – no, not more sympathetic.
Sympathy in the sense of understanding better her inner motivations, where she came from, what formed her, being able to somewhat put myself into her position – yes, the episode gave some important background story.
I can even understand that Cora chose in the end power over love, and ripped her own heart out to go through with it. Practical thinking: Rumple couldn’t offer her appreciation and respect of people, if anything only their fear and fear induced obedience. As powerful as Rumple was as much people despised him. Going with Rumple would have meant to still be an outsider, not be respected only feared at best. I can see why to Cora her choice seemed the better one at that point. Frankly: how many decide alike, play the (seemingly) safe card instead of going with their romantic emotions, and is that so bad to think practical instead of idealistic?
Most certainly can understand that she was pissed about her father. We didn’t get to his story, but from what we saw he was a confirmed drunkard, neglecting his job and his family. For that Cora’s reaction was moderate, probably out of resignation.
As much I can understand her anger when she was humiliated at court. And I can understand her anger about feeling being born into the wrong family, being told to keep her place, to not aspire anything different. It is not about growing up in tough circumstances, it’s about being told, that you can’t change it even if you want it, that that is your place, so shut up and accept it.
Circumstances, socio-economic status, influence development of personality but even more so do the people around us, how they act and react.
No matter though how much I might understand where she came from, why she made some of the choices she did, be even sympathetic in some ways, it doesn’t mean that I find anything she did excusable. I can like even people and still say they did bad things and made wrong choices and should be prosecuted.
¯\_(?????? ?)_/¯