In Metropolis, Thea von Harbou conjures a spellbinding futuristic cityscape where dazzling skyscrapers tower above a hidden realm of relentless labor and social inequality. The story is set in a technologically advanced city, which is sustained by the existence of an exploited class of labourers who live underground, far away from the gleaming surface world. Freder, the son and heir of Joh Fredersen, one of the city's founders, falls in love with Maria, a girl from the underground. Their romance takes place against the growing threat of civil war between the labourers and the armies of the founders, and the question of whether a lasting peace can be found.
The novel follows the tense intersection of powerful industrialists, visionary inventors, and the marginalized workforce striving to break free from their unforgiving circumstances. Rich with the essence of early science fiction, Metropolis immerses readers in a world defined by grand technological dreams and equally vast human struggles. Von Harbou's prose weaves together themes of ambition, justice, and the potential consequences of unchecked progress, forming a layered commentary on class divisions and the cost of utopian ideals. Her striking imagery and nuanced characters demonstrate how fragile order can become when technology outpaces compassion. Over the decades, Metropolis has cemented its place as a groundbreaking work that not only influenced the genre's aesthetics but also sparked enduring debates about the kind of future society should strive to create.