Amadeus Writing Assign
“Forgive me, Mozart, I killed you…”
1. "Amadeus" provides a thoughtful exploration of an existential and moral dilemma:
if you are talented, if you spend years in training, if you work hard and if you are
acclaimed by your peers for your achievements, how do you react when faced with
true genius that easily outshines anything you can hope to accomplish, especially
when that genius takes the form of a vulgar little imp?
a. How would you answer that question?
2. Many of Mozart's compositions were so beautiful that they seemed to be the "very
voice of God." Salieri was appalled by the fact that such beauty could be created
by "a boastful, lustful, smutty, infantile boy," while a person like Salieri, who
worked hard and who had an excellent education, could only compose nice, but
essentially mediocre music. Salieri objects to the fact that the gift of extraordinary
talent has nothing to do with whether the recipient of that gift is a deserving
individual. What does this conundrum tell us about God and/or the nature of the
Universe?
a. Why does Salieri call himself “the Patron Saint of Mediocrity” at the end of
the film?
3. "Amadeus" is a creative work about the jealousy, rage, and cosmic betrayal felt by
some talented and accomplished human beings who have not been graced with
true genius. Why does Salieri feel such a sense of cosmic betrayal?
a. What promise did Salieri make to God as a young man?
4. The scene when Mozart and Salieri meet for the first time is crucial in the
development of the conflict. Describe the two ways that Mozart unwittingly insults
Salieri in front of his colleagues:
a.
b.
5. Also during this scene, Salieri is given an opportunity to work with Mozart, as
opposed to being his rival; a chance to sit beside and sort of “bask in the glow” of
Mozart’s genius, so to speak. There are other similar missed opportunities in the
film as well. What should Salieri have done when faced with Mozart's genius? How
did his jealousy prevent him from recognizing and/or taking these opportunities?
6. Salieri was a very religious man. He called Mozart's music the "very voice of God."
But then he burned his crucifix and said to God, "From now on we are enemies,
you and I. Because you choose for your instrument a boastful, lustful, smutty,
infantile boy and give me for reward only the ability to recognize the incarnation.
Because you are unjust, unfair, unkind, I will block you. I swear it. I will hinder and
harm your creature on earth. As far as I am able, I will ruin your incarnation.”
a. What was it about seeing Mozart’s work, the “original copies”, which drives
Salieri to say and do this?
b. Describe this inner conflict: How do Salieri’s love of music and his love for
God conflict with his hate of Mozart the man?
c. Name at least one thing Salieri does in his attempts to ruin Mozart’s career:
7. How does love play a role in Salieri’s jealousy of Mozart? Who is he in love with and
how is he betrayed by Mozart? (don’t worry about her name, describe who she
is…)
a. How does Salieri’s feeling of romantic love contribute to his main inner
conflict with God?
8. Just after the death of Mozart’s father, when Salieri hatches his plan, as he watches
the Don Giovanni play, he says “…the madness began in me…madness and man,
splitting in half…”. How did Salieri’s jealousy drive him to thoughts of murder?
9. Also during the Don Giovanni scene, Salieri says that “(Mozart’s father) was still
controlling (Mozart), even from beyond the grave”. What did he mean by this? How
is Mozart controlled by his father throughout the film?
a. Why does Mozart lie to his father about his finances and his reputation when
(his father) first arrives?
10. How does Salieri manipulate Mozart after his father’s death? (think
costumes, the father-son connection, etc)
11. Mozart is shown as an immature, puerile individual who delights in puns and
riddles with sexual innuendos. What do you think contributed to this personality
and the exhibited behavior? What about his father and/or being a child
prodigy/genius who “was dragged from one royal capital of Europe to another
beginning at the age of four” could have caused Mozart to be this way?
12. The movie portrays Mozart as an arrogant young man who believes he is the
best musician. How does his arrogance lead to his financial distress? (think
employment issues)
13. How does Mozart’s financial distress and the death of his father lead to his
self-destructive behavior as shown by the alcoholism?
14. The movie begins with the elderly Salieri begging for forgiveness, confessing
that he killed Mozart, and attempting suicide. He then begins to “confess” the
story to a priest. How do the ideas of regret and atonement help shape the story?
How do they conflict with the ideas of jealousy and revenge?
a. What is the significance of the elder Salieri saying “I absolve you” as he is
wheeled through the hallway of the insane asylum at the end of the film?
15. Mozart was essentially the hot Pop Star of his day. Think of all the musical
artists you listen to: Which contemporary artist (e.g. singer, band, rock/pop star,
etc.) do you think will have a lasting presence in musical history? Why?
a. Why do you think that artist is so popular right now?
1. Extra Credit: Compare Salieri to Professor Lambeau in Good Will Hunting. How
were they alike and how were they different.
2. Extra Credit: Would you say that the statements from Question #6 and #8 were
Salieri's conversion to the "dark side" of "the Force" as described in the Star Wars
movies?
