An Analysis Of Antonio Salieri's Story Of Amadeus

Amadeus begins with a very aged Antonio Salieri: Mozart’s secret enemy. Antonio lives in an asylum for the mentally insane, due to him previously pleading to god for forgiveness because of “killing” Mozart. Antonio(latter) is then visited by a priest who seeks to take his confession. In the beginning Antonio is slightly bothered by the priest because he failed to identify

Antonio’s most famous pieces. However, once the priest was able to recall a renowned work of art by Mozart he began to “open up”, which in turn commences the exposition. In this he speaks about his devotion to God and his love for music; how he pledges to God to withhold his chastity as a sacrifice if he can somehow be given the opportunity to devote his life to music and somehow influence the world and leave a lasting impression on this earth. He also describes how his father had different plans for his future, but suggests that the sudden death of his father, who choked to death during a meal, was "a miracle" provided to him by God that allowed him to pursue his dream of eternal fame in music. Salieri's tale gives insight into his obsession with Music, God, and his profound envy of Mozart. The setting then shifts into the past, where Antonio is suddenly an adult joining the political elites of Vienna,(A.K.A) the "City of musicians". Antonio begins his career as a highly religious, God-fearing man who believes his success in life and musical talents are a result of his pact with God. He is content as the respected, financially well-off, court composer for Emperor Joseph the 2nd until Antonio goes to a performance at the Archbishop's palace hoping to meet Mozart. At this performance he is unofficially introduced to mozart, when he secretly observes Mozart and hi...

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...he Requiem. Mozart speaks while Salieri notates throughout the night. When Mozart’s wife returns in the morning, she tells Salieri to leave. Mozart’s wife locks the score away despite Salieri's protests, but as she goes to wake her husband, she finds that Mozart is dead. The Requiem is never finished, and Antonio is left helpless as Mozart's body is hauled away for burial in a grave with many people.

Amadeus ends with a cut back to Antonio(later) and the visibly shaken young priest. Antonio concludes that God killed Mozart rather than allow him even an ounce of his glory, and he accepted the title of "patron saint of mediocrity". Antonio “absolves” the priest of his own mediocrity and “blesses”his fellow patients as he is taken away in his wheelchair. Interestingly enough, the final sound before the credits would be the preposterous laugh of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart