because only Salieri had the ability to recognize greatness in music. The whole town
depended on his opinion of the music.
Salieri was always very envious of Mozart. Mozart had everything and was
everything Salieri wanted to be. Mozart had a wife who he loved by the name of
Constanze. Salieri is jealous not just of Mozart's talent, but of the fact that God gave the
talent to Mozart. He is envious of “God's laughter”, because he feels as if he’s an
average person and not a person of talent and worth. Not only did God double-cross
Salieri, but he did it using this "obscene child". Salieri saw Mozart as an immature boy
with a hideous laugh. It was this jealousy and the rage it inspired that caused Salieri to
attempt to kill Mozart by starving him of work and students, therefore, money and food.
If Salieri had not limited the amount of work, then Mozart could have been wealthy.
Salieri's grudge is with God, not just Mozart. It isn't the fact that someone has
more talent than him, the problem is, as he sees it, that he isn't as good as someone else
after making a bargain with God, which should guarantee that he is the best in the world
at least until he dies.
Mozart was portrayed as a young immature boy who didn’t know much of real
life and didn’t really take life seriously. Mozart doesn’t understand the value of money.
When he successfully earns any, he spends it on rich foods and clothes immediately,
instead of saving it. He spends all his time on finalizing his music, which although
beautiful, doesn't earn money as would teaching music. Mozart is really the one who
should be jealous, as he has little in the way of money, things or even respect. All he has
is his talent and his priceless music, but not the sense he needs to profit from it.
The carefully throughout thought that went into both of these men's plans caused
their purpose to focus more on revenge. The men weren’t trying to intentionally provoke
anger, it was more of grudges that they held against each other. This hostility only made
it worse for them because it would eat at them inside. Mozart and Salieri could have
easily been true friends. The anger that existed inside the two men allowed them to
become bitter and spiteful towards each other. The reason that Salieri took his anger out
on Mozart was because Mozart had been blessed with all of the talent while Salieri only
had the desire. Salieri becomes frustrated with Mozart for several reasons. One of the
reasons was because Mozart was having relations with a talented young lady whom
Salieri was secretly in love with. Another major reason why Salieri was frustrated with
Mozart was because Mozart had seemingly endless talent in natural musical ability, and
also, Salieri disliked Mozart for winning favor with Vienna and for making Salieri
become less popular. Salieri began to think that God was against him. Everything that
Salieri wanted and everything he asked God for, he found it in Mozart. Salieri became
very furious with God and began to rebel. He makes the conscious decision to destroy
God through Mozart in everything he does. His life is now devoted to the destruction of
God.
Anther characteristic that took over the two men was fear. Salieri was extremely
careful in plotting Mozart's death. From the moment that Salieri had learned of Mozart's
presence in the world, Salieri had established a desire. Salieri wished to obtain Mozart's
status- immortality. Also hypocrisy played a big role in these men’s lives. Salieri and
Mozart exchange words that really showed the true two-faced nature of Salieri, as well as
point out the innocence of Mozart. Salieri says, "God was seeing through this little man,
to all the world, making my defeat more bitter with every passing bar." This quote is
stating that Salieri suffered because Mozart was becoming more successful. Salieri also
says, "With that yawn, I saw my defeat turn into a victory." This quote refers to the
emperor yawning because Mozart's opera was four hours long. When Salieri was
allowed to conduct it, he cut it down to an hour, and the emperor praised him saying,
"This was the best opera yet written." Mozart later says, "You are so good to me. To
come to my opera- you were the only colleague of mine who came. I thought you did not
care for my work, forgive me, forgive me." Its ironic that Mozart believed that Salieri
didn’t care for his work because Salieri really adored Mozart’s work., but was so full of
hatred that he couldn't hardly admit it. Also, Mozart is under the delusion that Salieri
actually cares for him. Salieri finally tells Mozart that, "You are the greatest composer
ever known to me." This statement reinforces Mozart's belief that Salieri actually cares
for him, making it much easier for Salieri to take advantage of him.
Salieri is plotting the death of Mozart, yet is completely kind to his face. Salieri
knew that Mozart continually blamed himself for the death of his father, Leopold. Salieri
used this secret piece of information to his advantage. Salieri carefully came up with a
plan. Salieri dressed up in a costume that was identical to the one Leopold wore at one of
Mozart's parties. Salieri proceeded to Mozart's home and ask if Mozart would be
interested in writing a requiem for this mysterious man. Salieri only wanted to achieve
the successful park of Mozart, hence the reasoning behind this thoughtful scheme.
Mozart agreed, mostly because he desperately needed the money, and began to write this
requiem as was requested by the mysterious man. To Salieri's pleasure, this musical
piece was extracting every bit of energy from Mozart, because Mozart still blamed
himself for his father's death.
Now that the plan was set and everything was working out in Salieris favor,
Salieri didn't actually know how to do the actual killing part of Mozart's death. Mozart
died from extreme exhausted, yet Salieri was convinced that he was responsible for the
killing, that he had poisoned Mozart. Salieri had won his fight with God, but the
knowledge lived in him still, he knew he would forever be, the patron saint, of
mediocrity.
Salieri was a good liar and being two-faced came naturally. The guilt was tearing
him up on the inside, though. It is sad that one person can become so consumed with
anger and revenge that it takes over their entire being. The poor man wasted valuable
portions of his life worrying about how to kill another. It's very sad, but true. Revenge
affected Salieri tremendously. Salieri explains to the preacher, "Your merciful God: He
destroyed his own beloved [Mozart], rather than let a mediocrity share in the smallest
part of his glory. He killed Mozart and kept me alive to torture. Thirty-two years of
slowly watching myself become extinct. Mediocrity everywhere: I absolve you!" This
lengthy quote shows how Salieri regrets plotting Mozart's death, but it took quite some
time for him to establish this remorse.