Metropolis utilizes biblical references to emphasize class conflict; notably does not use god to "punish" man but rather the structures of society and the struggle and exploitation of the working class to demonstrate the dangers of technology and its monopolization. The dangers of machines in this film are not ascribed to the technology itself but rather the use of the technology by those in power as a means for the exploitation of one's fellow man; Man-made Maria's mission to destroy the workers, as well as the wealthy, was instilled in her by J on Frederson and the inventor Rotwang. Unlike our modern fears about technology, the autonomy of the machine is not the thing the film is warning us of. While now we worry that machines will gain autonomy and choose evil, Metropolis highlights the fears of machines being operated by evil men. In both cases, we fear the harm a machine is capable of; but the critical difference is the motivation of the devi...
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