First thought was AGAIN? It seems like this is all villains want
Yeah this was my first reaction. Apart from Pan, it’s sorta the same old, same old. Regina, felt unloved, did bad things. Rumple, felt unloved, did bad things Cora, felt unloved, did bad things. Zelena, felt unloved, did bad things (SQ and Zelena especially seem alike in this regard)
Cora was just power-hungry. Lack of love never motivated her into doing bad things. After all, “Love is weakness”.
Jonathan never loved her. And when she learned that she did bad things. Even though she didn’t love him either. And her father, from what we know, wasn’t exactly father of the year and it turned her hard.
By “bad things” you mean tricking Leopold? She just wanted to marry into royalty, as was the case with Jonathan. She could’ve felt love with Zelena, but decided to abandon her so she could have another go at the marrying a prince thing. Then there was Rumple, but she chose power and ripped out her heart.
Her father’s behavior probably affected her, yes, but I think more about the fact that he was a lazy bum and she had to do all the work. That coupled with the fact that they were so poor is probably what made her thirst for power and riches.