Introduction
This essay describes the plot, characters, scenes, and my opinion on the play Amadeus. The narrator of the play, Antonio Salieri, tells a story of meeting a young Composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and becoming his rival, which would lead to Mozart’s death. He returns the audience from 1825 to the 1780s when the two men first met. Salieri was a respectable composer serving the Austrian Emperor, but he was ambitious and wanted to become famous. However, Mozart, a child prodigy, arrives in Vienna – his music is beautiful, although his behavior is childish (1). Salieri makes it his life’s mission to ruin Mozart’s life, using his power and connections. In the end, Salieri succeeds in poisoning Mozart’s career, family, and health, but he recognizes that he has been poisoned by envy as well.
Three Characters in a Play
There are many characters in this play, but the two main ones are Salieri and Mozart, and the Emperor of Austria is another fascinating figure. The first character is Antonio Salieri – he tells the story from his memory and point of view.
He is an older man who is recognized in the city by other respectable men, but his music is not considered a genius. The second character is Mozart, who is young, flamboyant, and energetic, while his compositions are imaginative and enchanting. His behavior is what affects his success in finding pupils and working at the court (1). The third character is Joseph II, the Emperor of Austria. He is not very bright, as he does not understand when Mozart insults him or other people.
The First Scene
The chosen scene from the first act is Mozart presenting the idea for his opera about a harem. The background has a throne and adornments that look like the royal court’s palace. Mozart, Salieri, the emperor, and his lords are all dressed in coats, waistcoats, and breeches – all clothes have beautiful patterns. Everyone but Mozart and Salieri is wearing white wigs; the two composers have long hair tied in a ponytail. Salieri is dressed in black, which sets him apart from other characters.
Mozart is wearing a red sachet that also draws attention to him. The men are discussing Mozart’s new music, and Mozart tries to interest the emperor in his work. Criticizing the operas that do not honestly represent love, Mozart exclaims, “not male sopranos screeching and stupid couples rolling their eyes… All that absurd Italian nonsense!” (2). The Emperor, his followers, and Salieri act appalled and offended by the young composer demeaning a well-beloved traditional narrative.
The Second Scene
The second scene is a dialogue between Mozart and his wife, Constanze Weber. The characters sit in the dark at a table that has Mozart’s notes and a single glass and a bottle. Mozart is wearing a dirty white shirt, and Constanze has a thick woolen shawl around her because their house does not have firewood to keep them warm (3). The young composer is sick, and he is coughing; however, he continues to compose.
Constanze blames their misfortune on Mozart’s father and reveals that she was burning his letters to them because he hated her. She says, “What a blaze, remember… all those old papers going up! Well, my dear, all those old papers were just your father’s letters, that’s all” (3). Mozart is shocked to find out that his wife hated his father. He was convinced that she liked him, and this revelation makes him drop his quill and stand from the table, yelling for his wife to stop.
Overall Reaction to Play
Overall, I enjoyed the play, Amadeus, because it shows an interesting interpretation of the events that surrounded one of the most famous composers in history. It shows Mozart’s life through the eyes of Salieri and shows how envy can affect both the object of it and the person feeling it. Salieri’s path leads him to regret his every decision, but he cannot undo his harm to Mozart. It teaches that recognition and talent do not always go hand in hand, although true genius will be recognized at some point. The play is tragic, but it has many funny moments as well, making it entertaining and exciting to watch.
Sources
- Marin Shakespeare Company. n.d. Amadeus: Story of the Play. Web.
- Amadeus Part 1. n.d. Web.
- Amadeus Part 2. n.d. Web.