The plot works-kind of-as Mozart does die from the strain of trying to compose the requiem. The plan is to murder Mozart once the requiem is finished so he can take the credit for writing the piece-which he will of course dedicate to Wolfie’s memory. That masked man is of course a disguised Salieri. Eventually, after his father dies, a masked man hires Mozart to compose a requiem for him. Mozart struggles tremendously, even without Salieri’s devious efforts-either from a lack of money or common sense-the guy overspends at every turn. Salieri presents Mozart is being as much an infantile boy as he is a musical genius, and even more as a drunk. Salieri goes as far as to prevent Mozart’s operas from being performed for more than five shows. One time he tricks Amadeus’ wife into showing him her bosoms, another, he gets Mozart job to teaching dogs to howl. He begins to undermine Mozart every chance he can. Salieri soon comes to believe that God is mocking his mediocrity. He both simultaneously adores Mozart and resents him. Salieri’s faith in God diminishes the more he grows to know Mozart, his short comings, and his musical talent. However, even though he claims to be chaste, his heart is cold and cruel! A loss of faith He went so far as to pledge to God he’d be celibate in return for a life as a composer. Salieri talks up his upbringing as a devout, God-fearing man. His rambling account goes something like this…įor forty years, Salieri has held a deep grudge against God for making Mozart-whom he describes as a boastful, lustful, smutty, and infantile boy-a musical genius. While he’s not a terribly reliable narrator, he goes on to say that he’s responsible for Mozart’s death. We meet him in an insane asylum after authorities commit him because he attempted a not-so-Christian suicide circa 1823.įrom there, he recounts the life and times of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a local priest. Amadeus begins in the waning years of the failed composer Antonio Salieri.