Appearance vs. Reality in Peter Shaffers Amadeus Essay -- Peter Shaff

Appearance vs. Reality in Peter Shaffers Amadeus In the world of the 18th century, appearance was everything andappearance often conflicted with reality. Such is the outcome in PeterShaffers, Amadeus, which follows Wolfgang Amadeus Mozarts musicalcareer. Mozarts career was enveloped in deceit and falsity, appearing tobe brought on by poor choices he made, when tout ensemble along he was beingsabotaged by Salieri. When Mozart arrives in Vienna, Antonio Salieri pretends towelcome him. He even writes a welcome March for Mozart, to be playedas the young, insubordinate musician enters the court. However, Salierihates Mozart from the beginning. Salieri is nice to Mozarts face, andpretends to support his career to all other parties concerned. Salieri is, in fact, nice to everyones face. As several officials areconversing, Salieri comments to the earshot on their personality. Johann von Strack. Royal Chamberlain. A court official to his collarbone, Baron van Swieten. Prefec t of the Imperial Library. ArdentFreemason. Yet to find anything funny... (Amadeus, 11) Saliericontinues to interject throughout the mens conversation until he isincluded. Salieri is jealous of Mozarts musical ability. While it appears toeveryone the Salieri is the most talented musician in Vienna, he, himself,knows that Mozarts music is much deeper than his own. Salieri ventshis jealousy when he states, We were both mundane men, he and I. Yethe from the ordinary created legends-and I from legends greeted only theordinary (Amadeus, 63). Mozart and his wife, Constanza, are starving. They are living inextreme poverty. All of this is because of Antonio Salieri. whose plan isrevealed to the audience in his conversation with Emperor Joseph. Hesays, Then grant him Glucks post, Majesty, but not his salary. Thatwould be wrong (Amadeus, 64). He then turns around to Mozart who is gaga about the payment he is receiving and says, Im sorry its madeyou angry. Id not have suggested it i f Id cognize youd be distressed....Iregret I was not able to do more (Amadeus, 65). Salieri pretends that hegot Mozart as much money as he could, when in reality, he kept himfrom a great deal more. The real showing of Salieris true colors comes out in the last fewscenes of the play. afterwards the death of Mozarts father... .... Hate is a poison you cannot withstand. (Amadeus, 81). Salieri got his wish for fame in the end. He reflects on this, I wasto become quite simply the most famous musician in Europe...This wasmy sentence I mustiness endure thirty years of being called distinguishedby people incapable of distinguishing...I must smell as I wrote it thedeadness of my music... (Amadeus, 85). While he had what he hadalways wanted, and he appeared to be on top of the world, realityremained. He was not happy. He did not have to gift he had longwanted. And though the public praised and shouted to him, he knewexactly what it was worth. While Mozarts life appears to be a series of mistakes, and poorchoices he has made, the truth is, he was sabotaged. His life was agame for Antonio Salieri to act out his jealousies and insecurities. ButSalieri, in the end, is more depressing with his life without Mozart, than hewas when Mozart was alive. Works CitedAmadeus. Shaffer, Peter. Samuel French, Inc. New York. 1980.http//www.albemarle-london.com/amadeus.html. Accessed, March 15, 2001http//www.imagi-nation.com/moonstruck/clsc69.html. Accessed, March 17, 2001