Music and thought (Amadeus/SALIERI essay)
In the play of life and death, Peter Shaffer's Amadeus exemplifies a distinct contrast between the Age Of Reason and Romanticism thoughts. In representing the various themes, Shaffer uses his two main characters as spokesmen for each. The musician Salieri, based on reason, lives a struggled life attempting to find fame through composition. As for Amadeus Mozart, the Romantic composer, finds joy in living life as freely as can be. The character Salieri represents one side of the conflict taking place in the play which is that of reason. In being Mozart's competitor in the music world, Salieri envies Mozart for his sublime work and way of life. Salieri observes Mozart and his perfection in fame, and yet as he tries to work up to Mozart's greatness, he uses the complete opposite tool than Mozart to become the same thing. Salieri bases his life around thoughts of planned living and above all, life by reason. His thoughts are therefore revolved around ideas of goals towards dominating power and only through reason does Salieri believe he can obtain those accomplishments. In terms of religious ties, Salieri looks to praise God for all works of life, including his ability to create music. Art is therefore produced
Mozart lives a life of fame and ease, which makes it easier to live as he does, covered in Romantic thoughts. His alcoholism rises and Mozart becomes trapt in his own world of music and self caused by emotions, yet still leaves room for Salieri to be jealous. ]Foppy-wops-I'm sick of them! Foppy-wops!. In Salieri's eyes, art is a gift by God. In regards to music, Salieri follows a structure based on reason, to gain acknowledgement through his work just as Mozart has. Yet ultimately a balance of both is the easy way out of such an impossible debate. Based on passions and emotion of each day in Mozart's life, his musical composition developed into absolute sublimity. Music was the beauty of the universe to Mozart, and the artist was always to prove to God how grateful humans are for the beauty in life. As Mozart writes music compositions off the top of his head, including chamber notes and all, his passion driven mind overflows with lack of reason. As Salieri's life changes and he grows towards more and more hatred for Mozart's abilities, his interactions with 'God' grow. He opened the door for people to use their own life experiences and thoughts to relate to the historically conflicting ideas, and understand how in everyone's life, reason and Romanticism are still highly analyzed. Life could be wonderful and talent filled not because of God's gift to us, but because it's a human duty to show God exactly how beautiful the world can be. On the other hand, artistically Mozart was the lead man, not Salieri. Through all his envy and jealousy emotions that ultimately take over his life, he is left with nothing and no significance.
Common topics in this essay:
God Salieri's,
Reason Romanticism,
Unlike Salieri,
Romantic Mozart,
Mozart Salieri,
Foppy-wops Suddenly,
Mozart Romantic,
Mozart Passion,
Salieri Based,
Mozart's Romantic,
age reason,
reason romanticism,
age reason romanticism,
mozart able,
mozart failed,
unhappy lives,
lack reason,
life musical,
reason lives,
salieri observes,
mozart romantic,
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