I think Rumple needs Belle to bring out the good in him. Without her, it would be all to easy to revert to his previous manipulative ways. Snow was well aware that Rumple was trying to manipulate her. The fact that he directed her to the cupboard where the candle just happened to be wasn’t subtle, and Rumple is a master of subtlety. Cora was right to be worried that Rumple had time to think, he pretended to be getting better so that he could get to the shop, Rumple had probably planned on using the candle to save his life.
Snow referred to Rumple as “Evil”. He did play the “I’m Henry’s grandfather” card but it wasn’t like Snow didn’t know what he was trying to get her to do. She wanted to kill Cora but didn’t like the consequences once she had set the wheels in motion.
Whilst it was morally wrong for Rumple to manipulate Snow like he did, you can’t help but be a little impressed that he had the balls to actually do that whilst he was dying and for it to actually work. Also you can’t fully blame him for Cora’s death when Snow actually used the candle, she knew what she was doing. Rumple directed Snow to the candle, Snow did the rest. She took the candle from the cupboard, sneaked away to Regina’s mausoleum, rooted through Cora’s stuff until she found the heart, lit the candle and cursed the heart, then gave the heart to Regina. At any time Snow could have stopped. She could have done what she said she could’ve done: let Rumple die and control Cora’s heart “Takes care of two evils at once” but Snow still carried through.
As for people’s reactions to what Rumple did:
Snow- Would blame herself. She knew she could have stopped but didn’t. She feels guilty over what she did which means she’s not evil but she would doubt whether she is a good person.
Charming- Would probably punch Rumple in the face. Charming would completely blame Rumple for what Snow did.
Emma- Probably wouldn’t want Henry anywhere near Rumple which would suit Rumple just fine.
Bae- Would be disappointed with his dad and would think that Rumple hasn’t changed at all. This would be a setback to their reunion.
Belle- Once Belle gets her memories back, I think she would listen to Rumple’s side of the story before judging him. She’d probably want to know if there was another way that could’ve saved Rumple without killing Cora. When she finds out there wasn’t, I think she’d side with Rumple.
All magic comes with a price!
Keeper of Felix