Richard Mayhew is the protagonist of Neverwhere. Written in third person, the novel generally filters the story through his point of view. Richard is a mild-mannered man who finds himself unexpectedly thrust into the dangerous, confusing underworld of London Below when he decides to save the injured Door. As he helplessly follows her on her journey, hoping that it will end with his return to London Above, Richard must embrace a transformative journey and gain the confidence to become a true hero. 

Alongside Door’s quest, Richard embarks on a personal journey to find his courage. There are many times he wants to give up as things get increasingly dangerous, but he never does―not even when the Ordeal of the Key tries to convince him to end his life. One of the personality traits that makes this transformation possible is his propensity for kindness, sensitivity, and, especially, selflessness (this final trait is key to the novel’s exploration of The Transformative Nature of Sacrifice). It was kindness that caused him to help Door in the first place, and though he acted as if his only motivation for tagging along on her was a chance to get back to London Above, it’s clear he is dedicated to keeping her safe.