On the surface, Stardew Valley's Pelican Town is an idyllic, cottage-core setting. The town's residents, while initially a bit awkward, welcome the player into their community and form friendships with them. However, Pelican Town's treatment of Linus reveals that not everything is as ideal as it could be.
Normally found just outside of the Carpenter's Shop, Linus lives in a tent and forages for food. At first, he's a bit wary of the player, noting that he's been a victim of violence in the past, with people having wrecked his tent. There are a few different ways that happens, including someone throwing rocks or paint at it. Linus also notes that the people of Pelican Town aren't always accepting of him.
This isn't to say that everyone hates Linus. A lot of different events make clear that some of the residents are, at the very least, tolerant of him. An early event, for example, sees Stardrop Saloon owner Gus offering to feed Linus rather than have him search through trashcans. Emily, who works at the saloon, also accepts Linus, though she indicates that not everyone feels the same way.
Stardew Valley never really makes clear if it's one person bullying Linus or multiple. There are theories that it's marriage candidates Sam and/or Sebastian, who are stereotypical disaffected teenagers. Sebastian, for example, says at the Egg Festival that they used to have their own rotten egg toss event, which the rest of the town didn't appreciate and so put a stop to. However, it's not clear if they're actually the guilty parties. The person mistreating Linus could also easily be someone that doesn't actually appear on-screen in the game, like the thief who robs players if they pass out after 2 AM.
While the core gameplay loop of Stardew Valley is pretty peaceful, deeper lore revealed throughout the game makes clear there is a war going on, encroaching mega-corporations and even some downright creepy things happening in the background. There's a lot to Stardew Valley and its commentary on the real world. Linus being bullied is part of that. Like those in the real world, Linus faces bullying and mistreatment for being homeless. And despite Pelican Town's idyllic surface, no one seems particularly inclined to look into who among them is being unkind to Linus. There don't seem to be any consequences for that bully.
In its depiction of Linus and his problems, Stardew Valley comments on classicism and the mistreatment of homeless people. The person abusing Linus seems to be doing so because they believe that they can get away with it because Linus is economically disenfranchised and/or the perception that he's somehow worth less because he doesn't contribute to society in a conventional way. Combine that with Pelican Town giving Linus' bully an implicit pass, and it becomes clear that the people who are so kind to the player character don't extend as much kindness to the homeless, even if some wish he was treated better and try to help him in small ways. Linus lacks power, and those with the ability to help him don't, exposing the town's refusal to confront matters of class. So while Stardew Valley may be idyllic for some, it's much more problematic for others.
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