Biblical Allusions in Ex Machina Anonymous 11th Grade

The 2014 science fiction independent film, Ex Machina, explored the world of artificial intelligence, while challenging the understanding of human consciousness. The story follows Caleb, a young programmer at an internet-search giant, who wins a competition to spend a week at the private mountain estate of the company's brilliant and reclusive CEO, Nathan. Only upon his arrival does Caleb discover that he was chosen by Nathan to participate in an experiment in which he evaluates the abilities, and ultimately the consciousness of an impressive, artificial intelligent humanoid, named Ava. This psychological thriller produces an array of interpretations that range from ideas about humanity to freedom.

In chapters 6 and 7 of How to Read Literature Like a Professor, Thomas Foster elaborates on the two most referenced works of literature: the works of William Shakespeare and the Bible. He explains that various Shakespearean works, as well as scriptures from the Bible, are used as inspirations for many modern narratives, and though the significance may not be noticeable at first, the ubiquity of these well known works add value to the pieces that mirror them. The symbolism conveyed through the names presented in Ex Machina, as well as...