Board Thread:Rant and Rave/@comment-25733960-20171029001047/@comment-28162607-20171029125056

Mattestar7 wrote:

Aine1989 wrote: Basically, what I said on the other thread, this episode had Belle throw her life away, never see her friends and family again, and dedicate all her remaining days to her abusive husband. Rumple finally succeeded in breaking her spirit and making her a submissive little housewife, a lovely neat obedient replacement for Milah. That is not true. She did not throw her life away, she wanted to see the world and she did. She was happy with Rumple who did not abuse her during their 50 years together. Rumple did not break her spirit, rather the opposite. Rumple did not need to abuse her because he already broke her. She became a submissive perfect wife for him. Thats likely the only reason she is still alive because we know what happens to women when they don't confrom to Rumple's desires (Milah waves from the RoLS).

Also, how do we know he did not abuse her? If we had seen any indication that he wanted to change then maybe I'd agree but we have not. How do we know he did not use her love for Gideon to bring her into line? How do we know he did not start back with the threats when she disagreed with him? These are all things we've seen him do as late as season 6. What's stopping him from doing it again?

I say she threw her life away because she decided to spend 50 years at the EoR with Rumple in order to help him rather than do something she liked, see her friends and family.