Gamzee Analysis: Loss of Self
An analysis and theoretical understanding and explanation surrounding Gamzee's "mind control" and the repercussions of it.
(Note: I put "" around mind control because I think the term can be used loosely and the way I explain it here may not be everyones definition of it.)
(To clear up any possible confusion readers may get from this: I interchange between Lil Cal, LE (AKA Lord English), and Lil Cal/LE because Lil Cal is only a vessel of a weakened Lord English.)
UUUUGHHGG..... I get frustrated sometimes about Gamzee because I think people don't fully understand my interpretation of Gamzee since I think people picture a nice sweet fellow coming out of mind control when I explain my concepts, but it's more like:
"Gamzee was tricked and agreed to something that they couldn't comprehend as a weirdo brain-damaged child (but thought it'd be a good idea) and was under a heavy influence that made them unconscious to his own existence majority of the time (in and out of control of his own body/in my mind, similar to dissociation/, not having his own thoughts majority of the time, his mind getting scrambled as time goes on.) and when hes finally out of control he's just actually fucked up and is definitely different from how he used to be."
I believe that Gamzee would have hella neutral morals after getting out of control that can translate to how he was before Lil Cal but context is very different to his thoughts and words. Gamzee's a weirdo and no one likes him ("normal ppl" idk lol) but he's also the guy that if your weird and an outcast too, you'd get along with them off the bat. Definitely not evil but also not a goody two shoes, dudes just living with psychosis and the only thing holding him back from being a worse person is that he just doesn't want to be.
Also I'm adding to the mind control concept I talked about, because I believe that is also massively different from most interpretations.
I also just feels like it makes sense for when he was cut in half and why one half smiles and the other frowns. For me I interpret it in a "Gamzee's brain was still in the process of getting scrambled and he was only half gone at that point." We can even go into it scientifically.
Right brain that is more in charge of creativity and more spiritual thoughts, the right brain. And the other is more in charge of logical thought, left brain.
I think it really depends on which side YOU feel is supposed to represent The "real Gamzee" and "controlled Gamzee" but I see it as both having those aspects but one having more of the other.
A few understandings of how you can see this specific aspect: Right side could be going "Oh no it hurts." Or "Oh no I lose" and the left side could be "I'll find another way" or "Yay I'm dead".
So now for my explanation of my personal understanding of this.
For me, I've always seen the left side being in LE's control more than the right. Not just because of the smile but because just generally, I tend to use the left side of his face for symbolism since I headcanon Gamzee with a damaged left eye from Nepeta's scratches. I tend to use it to represent LE/Lil Cal's control or a SCAR from Lil Cal's control.
I think it also just generally makes sense that his logic would be under LE's control more than his creative and holistic side, that's the side that not only keeps him in his religious delusion but is probably useful for LE and is why that side (right side) gets sucked into LE in the first place!
(Another note: I did not forget about Aranea's mind control of Gamzee but I didn't include it because this is an analysis around LE's control and its effects. It also really depends on how you think her mind control affects people as well so it feels like something that needs another post. But hers is definitely presented as a more literal mind control that we are used to seeing in media.)
Will say this again. Everything written here is purely theoretical while also using canon to back stuff up. This isn't me claiming anything I'm saying is canon nor am I targeting other Gamzee interpretations out there (I do not like using any biases in these types of things) just sharing my personal understanding of stuff because I have yet to see anyone represent what I'm seeing in Gamzee's character. I hope you enjoyed reading!
If you need more explanation on certain things I said feel free to ask in replies!