The London Underworld (Symbol of mystery)
The underground world of London Below is a major symbol in the novel, representing the hidden and mysterious aspects of life that are often overlooked or ignored by society. The underground is a place where the strange and the fantastical coexist, and it is a place of great danger and adventure. The underground also symbolizes the idea of the unknown and the hidden depths of the human experience.
The author figuratively uses the London Underworld to symbolize mysteries and dark dealings in that secluded place. When Richard first meets Door, he learns that mystical assassins haunt her. Door convinces Richard to accompany her into the London Underworld to search for answers. When Richard reaches the underworld, he loses everything, including his memory, wife, and property. The things that take place in the underworld are strange and incomprehensible.
Rat Speakers
The Rat-Speakers symbolize the dangers of the underworld. Richard and Door decide to travel to Earl’s court to understand why the assassins are troubling the young girl. However, the journey to Earl's court is extremely dangerous, and while on the way, Richard and Door encounter the Rat speakers, which signify the dangers ahead, including the night's bridge and the floating market.
The Angelus
The Angelus symbolizes Door’s magical powers. After arriving at the Bridge museum, Door uses her supernatural powers to open the Angelus, which leads to Islington's place. Islington is the guardian of the London Underworld, and he has all the answers that Richard and Door are seeking.
The symbolism of treachery
The author figuratively uses Islington as a symbol of betrayal. When Door and Richard ask Islington to answer their questions, he demands they provide a special key and hand it in first. Door is joined by Marquis, who confronts the assassins to reveal the real killers of Door's parents. Unfortunately, Islington orders the assassins to kill Marquis. After a long struggle with the Black Friars, Richard and Door, at last, manage to find the special key and realize that the real killer of Door's parents is Islington.
Doors
Doors are an important symbol in Neverwhere, as they represent the idea of choice and the power to change one's circumstances. Door, the young woman who is a member of a powerful and influential family in London Below, has the ability to open any door, which makes her a valuable ally to have on a journey through the hidden landscape of the city. The doors in the novel also symbolize the idea of a passage and the ability to move between different worlds or states of being.
