creepycollector:

OK… I’m honestly not trying to start a petty argument here, but I just want to put forward some strong evidence in the game that Guzma did not have the best home life/was abused. 

I’ve seen posts saying it’s just “Tumblr trying to justify a character’s bad actions and turn him into a sweetie not responsible for his wrongdoings”. While I wouldn’t go that far, I personally believe Guzma is repeating the cycle of abuse he grew up with, but is on the right road to change by the end of the game.

I’m not that good at proving a point, but let’s give this a shot.

This is one of the more controversial conversations. The claim about Guzma’s father supposedly saying he beat Guzma “black and blue” in the Japanese version has been proven false, so let’s stop talking about that and stick with what we have.

I am not the only one who felt uncomfortable after reading this conversation you have with his dad. “I tried to set that boy of mine straight, but when I did, I was the one who got beat…” implies to me that Guzma’s father went at Guzma with violence to “set him straight”, but Guzma fought back.

A few people claim he’s probably talking about a Pokemon battle, but doesn’t it seem odd that Guzma’s father wouldn’t outright say that, then? Instead Game Freak went with this dialogue, which implies something darker?

Also… Doesn’t where the golf clubs are placed looked deliberate? They’re right there in the background when you speak to Guzma’s dad, like you’re intended to check them out next…

Just what on earth has Guzma’s dad been doing to cause that much damage to his clubs that some are outright broken? These are NOT Guzma’s golf clubs; all of Guzma’s stuff is covered in dust. It’s a popular theory, one that I support, that Guzma’s dad flat out hit him with these clubs.

Also… More than likely Guzma’s glasses are bent to look like a sun and moon to go along with the game title, but with if one of the lenses got bent during an altercation with his dad and he just left it like that? Just a thought. 

Of course, there’s this infamous line:

Guzma says this over and over again after you beat him while tugging at his hair. Most likely he’s remembering all the times his father said this to him whenever he screwed up and is just repeating it that it’s become a habit.

So… Guzma ran away from home after his dad tried to “set him straight” and every time you see him he’s very aggressive and violent. Even the Grunts are scared of his outbursts. 

Not knowing what else to do when he’s upset, Guzma mimics what his dad did to him and take out his anger on whatever’s around him. How much you want to bet Guzma is the reason why that chandelier’s on the ground? I’m sure some Grunts have felt his wrath personally as well.

Look at what Guzma says post game after you battle him:

I don’t think it’s a stretch to believe he’s saying “Beating people down is all I know!” because that’s how he was taught, through example, how to solve problems and maintain authority.

Guzma is so starved for some recognition and positive attention from someone older that he easily becomes charmed by Lusamine and is basically her lapdog, willing to do whatever she says for a pat on the head and a “Good job”.

I’ve seen other people ask why Guzma would go home again after all this if he was abused. Here’s my question: Where else is he supposed to go? He disbanded Team Skull; wouldn’t going back to Shady House be a bit awkward because of that? He’s going back to the only place he can.

Notice his dad’s dialogue does NOT change post game. It’s his mother’s that does and she’s the one Guzma entrusts with his favorite TM to give you. I think this makes it pretty clear that it was Guzma’s dad that was the abuser while his mother tried to ignore it or had her head in the clouds. She dismisses all the bad things Guzma has done as “lies”, so it isn’t a stretch to think she turns a blind eye to what her husband did to Guzma as well.

So no, in the English version, at least, nothing is ever outright said that Guzma grew up an abusive home but wow are the implications ever there!

With Lusamine outright being outed as being a terrible person/mother it’s not hard to believe they’d put in another character like this as well that suffered parental neglect.

…Just my two cents. It’s of course up for debate but this is my take.