There is no better source than a primary source, and that is clearly evident in the letters of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Having watched the major motion picture entitled “Amadeus”, I noticed some stark differences between the dramatic portrayal of his character and the reality of it.
Beginning by reading the letters from Mozart’s father, Leopold, to his sister Maria, one can note how proud this father was of his son. He boasts in his letter dated February 14, 1785 of his prodigal son’s achievements. The text is brimming with pride as he suggests that the concert was like none other and filled with notable attendees. On the second evening of his concert, a concert goer exclaimed to Leopold that “ … your son is the greatest composer I know, either personally or by repute!” This person was none other than the highly reputed Joseph Haydn himself, one of the famous forefront German composer of the Classical Era. In addition to his praise, Leopold also denotes his hopes for his son. He deliberates that so long as Mozart is free of debts he should be able to begin saving his money, placing 2000 florins in the bank. In another letter, Leopold claims that Mozart wants to leave his children with his father while he and his wife go touring around Europe. This proposal shows how carefree Mozart was, as well as how irresponsible he could be at times.
Mozart’s letters were highly personable. His charm seeps through his writing, something that was also apparent in the movie. He starts his letter to Professor Anton Klein of Mannheim with a declaration of fault for not answering his professor right away. He claims very descriptively that he hadn’t received both letter till last post day, and by use of exclamation points and metaphors such as “[m]y hands are so full of affairs…” It is evident that he is quite the enchanter and is able to manipulate people through kind words and a larger than life personality. In the movie portraying the life of Mozart, he is characterized as being a laughing baboon of sorts, fumbling for his words and exploding into fits of giggles for seemingly everything. In his letters, he also seems to have a sense of manners and formality when conversing with royals. His letter addressed to the Archduke Franz in May 1790 begins with a self-deprecating statement and praise of the Archduke. He then goes on to say that because of a “…desire for fame, by a love of my work and by a conviction of my own talents….” He wished to apply for the post of Second Kapellmeister. He does so with such grace and tact that it does not seem like an odd venture. In contrast, the movie shows Mozart as a flustered fool in front of loyalty: unable to recognize the duke from one of his men, and falling to the feet of royalty whilst showering his hand with kisses, prompting the surrounding court men to laugh at his expense.
Both in his letters and in movies made for him, Mozart is seen as a hopeless romantic and a debtor. The duke in Amadeus exclaims that when Mozart was last in his palace at the age of six giving a wonderful concert, he slipped off his stool and when the duke’s sister helped him up he jumped into her arms and asked “will you marry me?!” His letters to his wife are addressed to his “[m]ost beloved little Wife!” They go on to say that she has a husband who loves and dotes on her. His letters have a motif of begging others for money to pay debts, with promises that the loans are only needed for the moment and will be repaid as soon as possible. His awful money management and his lack of responsibility are echoed in his correspondences with others.
