Locke Lamora is a member of the Gentlemen Bastards, a gang of thieves raised by the priest of Perelandro, better known as Father Chains. Locke is an enigma; his real name is a mystery, as are his origins. He layers persona onto persona so that it’s impossible to truly know him, and he lies constantly. However, Locke shows himself to be a consistent person. Locke is cocky and arrogant, and does audacious things for no reason other than to prove he can. He can be petulant and moody, and for much of the book he sees himself as a class apart from everyone else, including his gang. After Calo, Galdo, and Bug are killed, Locke changes. He finds a new drive and passion because he realizes how much his gang means to him.

For a large portion of the narrative, Locke’s skill and success mean that he doesn’t know how to back down or when to lay low. After the Bastards go to the Floating Grave and discover what a threat the Gray King is, Locke refuses to listen to his friends’ advice—not because he has a plan, but because his way of tackling problems is to throw himself wildly into them and trust that his skill will carry him through.