(This essay was written some time in the late 2010 to early 2011.)
Have you ever thought you’re happily living a simple normal life? Do you think that your reality is all there is? In your believed reality, have you grown? Have you won? Or were you just stuck to where you are with people pressuring, controlling, and threatening you? Think again. You don’t want a normal life, eh?
These were the questions I’ve reflected upon after reading Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere. This is the book which became one of my inspirations in facing life’s challenges just like how Richard Mayhew, the main character of the story, faced all his ordeals.
As I read the novel, I put on Richard’s shoes. He was a normal Londoner just like how I am here in the Metro. He went to work as I go to school; he had a fiancée named Jessica that I don’t have; his life was a normal routine just like how mine was. Of course, he seemed stressed like I am most of the time. He forgot about things like accomplishing some reports for his boss, reserving that table in a restaurant for Jessica, and meeting Gary, his friend, for a drink. Reality bites: work, school, love life and friends are stressors in life.
As they say, everything has a purpose. One may be bombarded with all the stress in the world but it’s just temporary. In the middle of Richard’s stress came a bleeding girl in the street where he and Jessica walked. Instead of ignoring the girl, Richard helped her. Even if Jessica objected his decision, he still went to help her. Even if Jessica threatened him to forget their engagement, he still carried the wounded to his apartment. No one stopped him from helping the girl, not even his fiancée who kept on pressuring him. One might think Richard’s gone crazy. Yes, maybe. But it’s all because the help he extended to this girl named Door would be the start of something that would change his life forever as he was introduced to London Below, in the old and abandoned subway stations and sewer tunnels.
Door, who was sort of a princess in London Below, had a simple mission—to know the mastermind for the murder of her family when they had no enemies she could think of. Based on what she believed to be his father’s last statement, she went on her way to find Islington, an angel whom she thought would help her with her query. But then there were Mr. Croup and Mr. Vandemar, who served as the obvious antagonists even from the start of the novel. They were there to kill people and to capture Door for their boss. In one of the chases, Door got wounded and bumped into Richard. She bumped into Richard for a purpose, of course. Someone out there might be in suffering because of evil attacks like I do but I never know; we might be each other’s saviors once we bump to each other.
Richard saved Door and Door saved him as well. After the heroic act, he became invisible to London Above. It may be the curse for interacting with someone from Below but it is also possible that Richard belonged there after all that’s why he cared to help Door when she found her on the street.
Door saved him as well, of course. She promised him to get back his life. After meeting Door, he met marquis de Carabas, who was Door’s guardian and Old Bailey from a London rooftop which made him face his fear of heights. Richard was in for more unbelievable creatures when he met Iliaster, the beggar who introduced him to talking rats, the Lord Rat-speaker and Anaesthesia.
Anaesthesia was one of my favorite characters here. He served as Richard’s guide as they crossed the Knightsbridge while looking for Door after being separated with her and the marquis. From her came the words: “It’s one or the other. Nobody ever gets both.” Indeed, life is a choice. You can never get all the worlds you want and so you choose your best world. Anaesthesia was taken by the darkness as they crossed Knightsbridge. But her voice was the same urge that made Richard surpass the Ordeal of the Key by the Blackfriars when Islington ordered them to get the key in exchange for the information about the murder of Door’s family. Her voice uttered two magical words to Richard: HOLD ON. I did the same from then on and holding on never fails me.
Hunter is another remarkable character in the story as she served as Door’s bodyguard. But she was also the traitor who only wanted to get the spear for hunting the Great Beast of London from Mr. Croup and Mr. Vandemar and kill the Great Beast herself. But it was Richard who successfully killed the Beast and was awarded the honor in the end.
The biggest traitor comes in the most thrilling part of the novel—Islington. It was an angel that could help them as Door believed but the statement from her father was just made up by Mr. Croup and Mr. Vandemar. Betrayal is a natural phenomenon. We never know whom we can really trust. But in the midst of betrayal, one thing is for sure. Justice will prevail.
In the end, Door and Richard won. Because of Door’s talent in opening doors, she was able to throw Islington, Mr. Croup, and Mr. Vandemar to somewhere far from Heaven. Richard returned to London Above as Door promised with improvements like he was promoted in his work, Jessica was the one chasing him now, and he could enjoy with his friend Gary again. But then, Richard realized that his normal life wasn’t what he wanted.
Gary said, “Richard—this is reality. Get used to it. It’s all there is…”
But then Richard mumbled, “I thought I wanted a nice normal life. I mean, maybe I am crazy. I mean, maybe. But if it is all there is, then I don’t want to be sane. You know?”
Just like Richard, I don’t want to be sane. If there’s a greater opportunity for me to grow somewhere else, I’d follow it like how Richard returned to London Below in the end. For me, it’s not escape but a step in rising up. Life is a great adventure of taking risks, freedom, finding purpose, betrayal, holding on, and giving yourself for others. I’ve chosen to rise up from the routine of life, follow what my heart says, and let it take me where I should be. Thank God for being here. ###
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