Protagonist

A  is a main character of a story, and the main playable character in the Grand Theft Auto games.

Description
Traditionally, a protagonist is the main figure of a piece of literature or drama and has the main part or role. Alternatively, the phrase denotes a primary advocate or proponent for a cause or movement. The main character can be a hero or a villain in a story - it is just the character with the lead role. In literature, the protagonist is characterized by his/her ability to change or evolve.

It should be pointed out that the protagonist is not always the hero of the story, as implied in the Grand Theft Auto games. Grand Theft Auto protagonists frequently commit crimes and lack other heroic traits such as morality, though they are still considered the main character in the story. Grand Theft Auto protagonists can therefore be considered.

Traits
The protagonists between Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto IV share similar qualities. Most protagonists either have never been to the city before (such as Claude, Tommy Vercetti, Victor Vance and Niko Bellic) or are returning after a long time (such as Carl Johnson, Toni Cipriani and Huang Lee). The protagonists usually start with nothing, with minimal influence and reputation, having to do odd jobs around for various small-timers, gaining friends and allies (like Maria Latore, Asuka Kasen, Avery Carrington, Wu Zi Mu, and Little Jacob) before moving up the social and economical ladder, attempting to rise through the criminal underworld, although their motives for doing so vary in each game. They eventually start establishing a name for themselves in the town, doing larger jobs, making bigger and more powerful friends and business partners, and cutting real deals as their prominence, respect, money, and reputation begins to grow, until they end the game on top of the city, or at least with some powerful business and/or friends. An abnormal protagonist would be Luis Fernando Lopez or Johnny Klebitz, as both have always lived in Liberty City and have already established a name, powerful friends, and are already high up on the social and economical ladder at the start of the game. Protagonists (up to Grand Theft Auto V) have a consistent distaste of drugs, and while dealing and working with them, never intentionally use them. However, the three protagonists in GTA V can use drugs in their safehouses: Franklin and Michael smoke marijuana, whereas Trevor smokes methamphetamine. In addition, transitional cutscenes may also show Trevor smoking meth on his own, or Franklin purchasing weed from a dispensary and his experience with the drug plays a role in his part of the Grass Roots mission strand. Michael also admits to Franklin, while hanging out with him, that he used cocaine during his youth. The GTA Online Protagonist can also be made to smoke from a bong in some safehouse locations.

Antagonist

 * Main article: Antagonist 

The opposite of a protagonist is an , which is the main enemy of the protagonist and works against the protagonist and his actions. Again, this can be a villain or a hero, though usually a villain.

The main antagonists of the Grand Theft Auto games are usually introduced very early in the story, usually as the protagonist's friend or acquaintance until a major, personal betrayal (like Catalina, Sonny Forelli, Big Smoke, Vinnie, Jerry Martinez, Dimitri Rascalov, Billy Grey and Wu "Kenny" Lee). These betrayals can be done by, not just main antagonists, but antagonists in general. However, some antagonists break these rules, such as Frank Tenpenny, who is introduced as an enemy to the player and acts antagonistic towards the protagonist from the very beginning, and Ray Bulgarin, Devin Weston and Steve Haines, who aren't introduced until much later in the game and betray the protagonist near the end. They are usually seen, heard, or mentioned throughout the game, moving against the protagonist's plans or goals, while the protagonist continues his quest for vengeance, and will rarely interact directly with the protagonist after their betrayal until they are finally confronted and killed by the protagonist at the end of the game, thus removing the protagonist's problems and completing the main storyline. An abnormal example of antagonist is Massimo Torini, who only makes two appearances in the entire game and does not interact directly with the protagonist at all.

List of protagonists
(*) - Player's choice

(**) - Hidden character & player's choice

Grand Theft Auto
Protagonist: GTA Protagonists Group: None Group reason: They work for several gangs over the course of the game, including the Vercotti Gang in Liberty City and New Guernsey, Uncle Fu's Gang and El Burro's Gang in the city of San Andreas, and Samuel Deever's drug squad and Brotherhood of Jah Army of Love in Vice City, but do not commit themselves to a particular one.

Grand Theft Auto: London Expansion Packs
Protagonist: GTA London Protagonists Group: None Group reason: They work for several gangs over the course of the game, including the Cartwright Gang (from 1961 to 1969) and other criminals around London, including the Crisp Twins (Albert and Archie), but do not commit themselves to a particular one.

Grand Theft Auto 2
Protagonist: Claude Speed Group: None Group reason: Claude Speed works for several gangs over the course of the game, including the Zaibatsu, the Yakuza, the Loonies, the Scientists, the Rednecks and the Russian Mafia, but does not commit himself to a particular one. After gaining respect from each gang, Claude Speed ends up betraying all of them and killing their gang bosses, before leaving the Anywhere City district where they operate and doing the same on the next district he goes to.

Protagonist: GTA 2 Protagonists (Game Boy Color only) Group: None Group reason: The protagonists share the same story as Claude Speed from the original game. They work for several gangs over the course of the game, including the Zaibatsu, the Yakuza, the Loonies, the Scientists, the Rednecks and the Russian Mafia, but do not commit themselves to a particular one. After gaining respect from each gang, Claude Speed ends up betraying all of them and killing their gang bosses, before leaving the Anywhere City district where they operates and doing the same on the next district he goes.

Grand Theft Auto III
Protagonist: Claude Group: None Group reason: Claude works for several gangs over the course of the game, including the Colombian Cartel (only briefly, prior to the events of the game), the Leone Crime Family, the Diablos, the Yakuza, the Yardies, and the Southside Hoods, but does not commit himself to a particular one, as most of them eventually betray and attempt to kill him. After all story and phone missions are completed, the only gangs that are not hostile towards him are the Yakuza and the Southside Hoods. One interpretation is that Claude is egoistical and cares only about money, power, vengeance, and strategic objectives, instead of allegiance.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Protagonist: Tommy Vercetti Group: Vercetti Gang Group reason: Tommy founded the Vercetti gang after taking over Ricardo Diaz's empire in Vice City. Tommy's gang is not named in the game, with the name "Vercetti Gang" spawning from Tommy's purchase of the Kaufman Cabs taxi company and dispatcher Doris informing the drivers that the company is now owned by the "Vercetti Gang". Tommy also used to be a member of the Forelli Crime Family, until betraying them due to having formed his own crime empire, and maintains good relations with Umberto Robina's Cuban street gang and Mitch Baker's biker gang.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Protagonist: Carl Johnson Group: Grove Street Families Group reason: Carl's brother, Sweet, is the gang's leader, with Carl second in command. Carl is also affiliated with the San Fierro Triads and the Varrios Los Aztecas, maintaining good relantionships with their leaders, Wu Zi Mu and Cesar Vialpando, respectively. Carl also briefly works for the Loco Syndicate in San Fierro and the Mafia (through Ken Rosenberg and later Salvatore Leone) in Las Venturas, but eventually betrays them.

Grand Theft Auto Advance
Protagonist: Mike Group: None Group reason: Mike maintains close friendships with some gangs, yet has never made a commitment to one. He initially works for the Mafia (most likely the Leone Crime Family, although it is never specifically identified as so), and later allies himself with Cisco, the leader of the Colombian Cartel, and Asuka Kasen, co-leader of the Yakuza, although he was never interested in joining either gang, only working for them so that they would help him with his personal problems. Mike also briefly works for Yardies leader King Courtney, until he betrays him.

Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
Protagonist: Toni Cipriani Group: Leone Family Group reason: Toni's parents (or at least his mother) were connected in the Leone Crime Family, but how and when Toni joined the family is never revealed. He is close friends with Don Salvatore Leone and is made Caporegime later in the game, retaining this position in GTA III. Through the game, Toni also briefly works for other gangs, but only under the direct orders of Salvatore, as he helps the Yardies gain control of the Newport district from the Sindacco Crime Family, and later the Southside Hoods take over Wichita Gardens from the Forelli Crime Family. Toni also performs several jobs for Yakuza member Toshiko Kasen, although most of them involve directly attacking the Yakuza.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
Protagonist: Victor Vance Group: Vance Crime Family Group reason: After the death of Marty Jay Williams, Vic and his brother Lance, who would become Vance Crime Family Underboss, took over the remains of his old street gang, the Trailer Park Mafia, and started their own one to make money for their asthmatic brother Pete and rise up in the criminal enterprise. Through the game, Victor works for both the Mendez Cartel and Ricardo Diaz' gang in order to increase his influence, until the the former betray him and he cuts all his ties with the latter. Victor also maintains good relations with Umberto Robina's Cuban street gang.

Grand Theft Auto IV
Protagonist: Niko Bellic Group: None Group reason: Niko works freelance, and even though he befriends several gang leaders, he does not commit himself to any particular one. The Yardies and the McReary Mob have and will always be allied with Niko due to his friendships with Little Jacob and Patrick McReary. Niko also has a sort of connection with and receives protection from the Gambetti Family after he forms a bond with their leader, Jon Gravelli, shortly before his death. He can also have connections with the North Holland Hustlers, if the player chooses to kill Playboy X instead of Dwayne Forge.

The Lost and Damned
Protagonist: Johnny Klebitz Group: The Lost MC Group reason: Johnny is the Vice President of The Lost Motorcycle Club biker gang.

Klebitz was the vice president of The Lost MC, serving as an acting president while the motorcycle club president Billy Grey was in rehab. As the acting president, Klebitz maintained a relative peace between The Lost and the gang's rivals, The Angels of Death. He becomes the official president of The Lost after Billy was arrested again in 2008.

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
Protagonist: Huang Lee Group: Liberty City Triads Group reason: Huang's father was the head of a sub-sect of the Triads before he was killed for the Yu Jian Sword, which led Huang to travel to Liberty City. He remains a loyal members of the Triads throughout the entire game, and is never seen performing jobs for any other gang, although he can still meet several drug dealers from these gangs and engage in small-time drug deals with them.

The Ballad of Gay Tony
Protagonist: Luis Fernando Lopez Group: Northwood Dominican Drug Dealers Group reason: Luis works for Tony Prince, who is not affiliated to any specific organization. He used to be a member of the Northwood Dominican Drug Dealers prior to meeting Tony and, even though he no longer directly works for the gang, he maintans friendships with members Armando Torres and Henrique Bardas, whom he helps from time to time with several drug deals. Also, depending on the player's actions, Luis can build up a drug empire alongside Armando and Henrique.

Grand Theft Auto V
Protagonist: Michael De Santa Group: None Group reason: Although he is a friend of Franklin Clinton, who is a member of The Families gang, and Trevor Philips, who operates his own organization, Trevor Philips Enterprises, Michael is not part of any specific group during the events of GTA V, though he and Trevor previously in a bank robbery ring, the fate of which drives Michael's part of the storyline.

Protagonist: Franklin Clinton Group: Forum Gangsters/Chamberlain Gangster Families Group reason: Franklin was born and originally lived in South Los Santos, an area controlled by the Chamberlain Gangster Families, which he joined in his youth. His best friend Lamar Davis is also a member of the Families. They eventually start their own Families set which is known as the Forum Gangsters. Franklin is also friends with Trevor Philips, the head of Trevor Philips Enterprises.

Protagonist: Trevor Philips Group: Trevor Philips Enterprises Group reason: Trevor lives in a trailer at Sandy Shores, from where he runs his own organization, Trevor Philips Enterprises. He mostly deals weapons and drugs to other gangs from all throughout Blaine County, but later also establishes a headquarters in Los Santos after taking over the Vanilla Unicorn strip club. He operates with Ron Jakowski, Wade Hebert, and briefly Floyd Hebert, as well as Oscar Guzman if the McKenzie Field is purchased. Like Michael, Trevor forms a friendship with Families member Franklin Clinton.

Grand Theft Auto Online
Protagonist: GTA Online protagonist Group: Motorcycle Clubs, Organizations, and Crews (Player's Choice) Group reason: New to the city, the player is attached to no specific group and does jobs for various types of people and groups, although the player is affiliated to the Families, the Madrazo Cartel, and Trevor Philips Enterprises. They can also create their own crews, motorcycle clubs and organizations or simply join somebody else's.

Trivia

 * Niko, Johnny, Huang, and Luis have criminal records in the LCPD Database, and each have the crime "Grand Theft Auto" listed.
 * A graffiti tag throughout Liberty City in Grand Theft Auto IV suggests that all the protagonists from the 3D Universe (minus Mike) are dead, with the names "Claude", "Tommy", "Carl", "Toni" and "Vic" alongside remembrance graffiti. Rockstar has stated that this is a "joke" for the players and is only to confirm that the characters will not appear again.
 * The protagonists of GTA V (Michael De Santa, Trevor Philips, Franklin Clinton) and the GTA Online Protagonist seem to have a specific color that represents them in the games. Their colors can be seen when activating their special abilities and when switching to them, as the screen will tint into their color. Their smart phone theme also indicates towards this, although Trevor's color theme is red, rather than orange (it can be changed).
 * Michael's color is light blue.
 * Trevor's color is orange.
 * Franklin's color is green.
 * The GTA Online Protagonist's color is dark blue, but was originally yellow, as seen in the GTA Online Gameplay Trailer.
 * The mothers of three protagonists physically appear (Janet Vance, Adriana Yanira Lopez and Mrs. Philips), and the voice of Ma Cipriani is heard, but so far, none of the protagonists' fathers have been seen or heard in the series.
 * Every protagonist of the Grand Theft Auto series seemingly has access to the fictional dimension of, able to contain an arsenal of weapons pull them from thin air as required as well as a deep reservoir of ammunition. Though it does have limits, as they cannot carry infinite amounts of ammo and only one copy of the same model of gun (except in GTA: San Andreas, if CJ reaches "Hitman" level).
 * However, this ability is not canon, as it is only available to make gameplay easier, and does not relate to the story.
 * Toni Cipriani, Trevor Philips and Franklin Clinton are the only protagonists in the series to employ another protagonist, as Toni gave missions to Claude, while Trevor and Franklin gave missions to the GTA Online Protagonist.
 * The mission "Mr. Philips" is the only occasion in the series that a protagonist canonically kills another protagonist.