Bryce Dawkins is an unseen character in Grand Theft Auto IV.
History[]
Background[]
Earlier in life, Dawkins married his wife and they had children. The family moved to a mansion on Owl Creek Avenue in Westdyke, Alderney. As reported by Candice Johnson, Dawkins used to work as a hedge fund manager and used his market connections (particularly raising campaign funds from his former colleagues) to leverage his way onto Ochoa's ticket for mayor. Subsequently, the duo were elected to office. He assumed office as the Deputy Mayor of Liberty City before 2008.
Events of Grand Theft Auto IV[]
Dawkins is frequently mentioned in the game and contributes to the plot, but is not seen in person. Dawkins has a profile on Love Meet, under the name Troy Harder, which is a play on "try harder". Other times he is mentioned on internet articles after his controversial and bigoted statements, which Weazel News often endorses.
Public Liberty Online writes that Dawkins' market connections are being rewarded for their financial contributions to the Ochoa ticket. It is detailed that these connections have become entangled in a government-funded conspiracy to prioritize the rich and fund spying programs over public schools. However, the reporter refuses to provide further details, citing the complexity of the supposed conspiracy.
As a political leader, Dawkins establishes himself as a right-wing politician infamous for his anti-gay legislation and endorsement of family values. He is often criticized for homophobic comments that he makes; one of which suggested a link between homosexuality and terrorism. He publicly apologized for his statement, subsequently saying, "Some of my best friends are gay, I just don't want to know about it". He endorses the misogynistic children's toy Gender Role Doll, saying it is a very important tool for suppressing homosexual feelings.
Not long after Dawkins' passionate and inappropriate homophobic rant, he pushes a city ordinance to ban gay firefighters. Attempting to defend his decision, he confidently argues, "The showers in most fire stations are communal and the stress to the heterosexual firemen is causing them to cross over the fence." A spokesman for the FDLC denies knowing what Dawkins is talking about.
Despite Dawkins' marriage, he is actually a closeted homosexual in a relationship with Bernie Crane, who he first met at a foam party at the Tony Prince-owned gay club Hercules while Bernie was high on ecstasy. Bryce is blackmailed at least twice: once by Russian mobster Dimitri Rascalov for control of certain unions, and again by Thomas Stubbs III for an unspecified legislative goal. Bernie recruits the help of his old army friend Niko Bellic to threaten Dimitri away, who was coincidentally a prior mortal enemy of Niko's. After the threat is removed, Bernie rewards Niko with an Infernus, originally a gift from Bryce to Bernie.
At the end of the game, Dawkins' affair is leaked to the public by Thomas Stubbs III (who obtained information and proof of Bryce's escapades through a bug that he had paid Johnny Klebitz to put in Bryce's Infernus). Despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Bryce claims that he is not gay and his gifts to Bernie were only out of charity and platonic friendship. He does, however, admit to personal failures and enters a rehab clinic which is strongly rumored to treat sexual addictions. Even though Dawkins' reputation is shattered, he refuses to resign.
Influence[]
Dawkins is a parody of various Republican politicians who were involved in gay sex scandals. Some notable instances, which occurred prior to the game's release, involved politicians such as Bob Allen, Larry Craig, Richard Curtis, and Jim McGreevey (albeit a Democrat) among others.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Similar to John Hunter and Michael Graves, it seems that Dawkins' character is a generic pedestrian model.
- In certain Liberty Tree newspaper images, Bryce Dawkins reuse Perseus shop assistant Marcus' pedestrian model.
- The site our-own-reality.com reports on his sexuality, showing another personal trainer (not Bernie Crane).