The Phantom of the Opera · Character

M. Firmin Richard

The Opera's new co-manager, a man of explosive temper who treats the ghost's demands as insolent nonsense — until the house itself starts answering back.

supporting

Also known as Firmin Richard, Richard, M. Richard, Mr. Manager Richard

First appearance: Box Five

As a supporting figure in The Phantom of the Opera, M. Firmin Richard is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

One of the new managers; initially skeptical of the ghost's existence, he listens to the retiring managers' warnings with a mix of seriousness and jest.

In the storyThe Mysterious ReasonOpen this moment free

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Richard inherits the management with Moncharmin and immediately dismisses the ghost as a joke, manhandling Mme. Giry and sneering at the memorandum-book his predecessors left behind. His blunt, physical fury — grabbing, stamping, shouting — makes him a comic counterweight to the creeping dread around him, and his refusal to negotiate raises the stakes of every demand O. G. makes. When he and Moncharmin finally sit in Box Five to catch the phantom themselves, his skepticism becomes the story's fuse.

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See M. Firmin Richard in Box Five

Character Web

23 connections

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Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Opera Management & Staff
Peripheral Characters & Family

+18 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This scene is the dramatic climax because it marks the moment when Erik’s paranoia and rage peak, directly thr…

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In the story

M. Firmin Richard appears across 8 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

The Mysterious Reason
One of the new managers; initially skeptical of the ghost's existence, he listens to the retiring managers' warnings with a mix of seriousness and jest.
Box Five
Co-manager of the Opera; receives the Ghost's letter and dismisses it as a prank, but grows irritated as the situation escalates.
A Visit to Box Five
One of the new managers; he sees a shape in Box Five that resembles an old woman like Mame Giry.
Faust and What Followed
One of the managers; experiences the ghost's presence and hears the threat about the chandelier.
The Mysterious Brougham
One of the new managers; appears changed, worried, and evasive when Raoul asks about Christine's absence.
The Singular Attitude of a Safety-Pin
One of the managers; behaves erratically, walking backward and refusing to be touched.
Mme. Giry’s Astounding Revelations as to Her Personal Relations with the Opera Ghost
One of the new managers; devises a plan to catch the ghost by having Mme. Giry slip the envelope into his pocket, but is later accused of being involved in the theft.
XVII: The Safety-Pin Again
One of the Opera managers; he is the target of the theft and becomes increasingly paranoid, suspecting Moncharmin of taking the money.

Chapter companion notes

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See M. Firmin Richard in Box Five

See M. Firmin Richard in The Mysterious Reason