It is apparent from his letters to friends, family members, and acquaintances that Wolfgang was often incredibly busy and was therefore difficult to interact with. He often found himself remiss in answering letters in a timely fashion and was constantly apologizing for that failure. Despite this, he was generally extremely kind and affectionate to those close to him. This is especially evident when he was asking for a favor. For instance, when requesting a commission from the emperor, Wolfgang referred to the royal groom of the chambers as “Dearest friend! Companion of my youth!” and when asking Michael Puchberg for money, he again resorted to flattering the letter’s receiver. In fact, Wolfgang almost guilted Puchberg into lending him money by claiming that a “true friend” and a brother would certainly lend his friend the money. However, in many instances Wolfgang was unable to pay Puchberg on time and instead asked his “brother” for more money.

Although kind to his immediate friends, Wolfgang was very critical of other musicians and performers. In a letter to his father, he was extremely critical of one oboe player named Fisher. Wolfgang’s rivalry with composer Antonio Salieri is made apparent when Mozart wrote to the archduke asking to be the king’s second Kapellmeister while criticizing Salieri’s execution of the duties of the first Kapellmeister. Further, Wolfgang was unhappy with the choice to continue producing operas in Italian. Obviously patriotic, he was upset that the German opera was not hiring enough Germans and was instead turning to foreigners, who were often paid more and were sometimes less talented.

Wolfgang’s harsh, almost scathing criticisms were practically non-existent when communicating with his family. Instead, he came across as a man that valued his familial relationships very highly. In the aforementioned letter to his father, it is apparent that he cared deeply for Leopold, as he inquired about his health. After their father died, Wolfgang reassured his sister that he would be a “kind and loving brother.” In addition, he frequently wrote to his wife while he was away, referring to her as “Dearest, best little Wife!” However, there are still signs of tumult in his relationships with family members. For instance, at one point, Wolfgang asked his father to care for his two children while he traveled to Germany and England. His father refused and hoped that the refusal would teach his son a lesson. In a later letter to his wife, Wolfgang cautioned her to be more modest around her male acquaintances. He expressed that he was feeling “needless jealousy”, a sign that perhaps he did not fully trust her.

Despite his faults, it is apparent that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was generally well-liked. According to his father, Leopold, Wolfgang was “held in such high esteem for his great talents and ability.” This sentiment is echoed by the fact that he was commissioned for numerous operas, for the nobility, and even for royalty. As for his character, it is highly unlikely that Michael Puchberg would have continued to lend Wolfgang money if Wolfgang was not of strong moral character. Therefore, it is safe to say that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a human being. Although often idolized, he had his many faults to balance his more-often-discussed virtues and talents.