The Machine Man

The Machine Man is a robot created by the mad inventor Rotwang, who created it to resemble his lost love Hel, who was the wife to Johann Frederson, mastermind of Metropolis, but died in giving birth to Freder Frederson, the protagonist.

The Machine Man plays a pivotal antagonistic role in the plot, as it is the robot, disguised as Freder's love, Maria, who starts a working class uproar, driving them to destroy the underground machines, flooding their own city.

The workers grow angry after realizing they've done this, and burn the false Maria at the stake. Freder is horrified at seeing this, believing it to be the true Maria, but is relieved when the false flesh burns away to reveal The Machine Man.