Metropolis

Metropolis, written by Thea von Harbou in 1925, is a landmark of dystopian imagination—a story where an immense, dazzling city becomes both miracle and nightmare. In this towering world of machines, skyscrapers, and regimented masses, society is split between the privileged elites who live above the skyline and the oppressed workers who labor deep underground to sustain the city's heartbeat.

At the center of the narrative is Freder, the son of Metropolis's master, who is shaken from his comfortable life when he witnesses the human cost of the city's power. His path crosses with Maria, a spiritual and compassionate figure who preaches unity between the classes. When a scientist creates a robotic double of Maria—driven by sabotage, revenge, and desire—Metropolis descends into chaos, revealing the volatile relationship between technology, control, and humanity.

Blending political allegory, spiritual symbolism, and early science-fiction futurism, Metropolis explores what happens when progress becomes dehumanization—and whether reconciliation can emerge from revolution. It remains one of the foundational texts of modern dystopian storytelling, echoing through cinema, literature, and visual culture.

Thea von Harbou (1888–1954) was a German novelist, screenwriter, and filmmaker best known for her collaborations with director Fritz Lang. Her work blends mythology, futurism, and political allegory, shaping some of the most iconic narratives of early science fiction. Metropolis stands as her most influential and enduring creation.