I don’t really like the use of the word abused with Regina. I don’t think she has ever abused him in any way. That word just conjures up things I think most people are uncomfortable with and I don’t think Regina has ever done any of those things to Henry. You’re probably referring to her making Henry think he was nuts, but Regina was trying to make EVERYONE believe that the Enchanted Forest never existed. Henry just happened to be getting too close to the truth.
She made him feel like he was crazy. She may never have hit him, but she hurt him emotionally. That is emotional abuse. And he himself one believed she did not love him–the Pilot episode. She also forced him to come with her with the threat that if he did not, she would kill others–We Are Both.
I know Emma has given Regina a chance, but you indicated that people were being nicer to Regina than she deserves, which says to me that you don’t think people actually should give her a chance. Treating her like garbage is not how you give someone a chance.
When did they treat her as garbage? They never cursed at her–they mostly just avoid her as much as possible. The only time they were rude was in The Cricket Game when Regina came to dinner, and that was understandable seeing as how they still cannot forget. And even then they mostly ignored her. They are never going to be friends with her or even like her. For the most, they keep their distance from her, and she seems to do the same.
I don’t hold Regina responsible for a lot of the stuff Rumpel has gotten her to do. He’s always been much older and wiser than her, and knew exactly how to manipulate the young woman that she was, and we’ve seen him do that with many other characters. His whole scheme with Frankenstein was one big manipulation. When you consider the damage Cora had already done in brainwashing Regina even before Rumpel came into the picture, it’s not surprising some of the bad decisions Regina has made.
She made a choice. She had gotten rid of her mother like she wanted. She did not want anything to do with magic before. She chose to learn. That is all on her. Rumpelstiltskin may have shown her the path, but he didn’t force her to walk it. She had a choice to refuse.
As sad as her circumstances are, she has to be held responsbile for her actions. And so far, she hasn’t really. She has never shown remorse and never once even tried to apolgoize.
I do agree with you that Regina should want to change because it’s the right thing, but even still, if people convince her that she CAN’T change, then she’ll stop trying.
Her whole reasoning with wanting to change was Henry, not because of anyone else. and no one has really brought her down. No one has confronted her except Grumpy in The Cricket Game and he was quickly stopped. Everyone else has just avoided her, and she them.
Believe it or not I don’t hate Regina–I used to like her much more in the beginnng. But after her treatment of The Huntsman and what she had done to Hansel and Gretal and how she never really shows remorse…well, I stopped liking her. I felt bad for her in Stable Boy for a bit.