Amadeus

Amadeus is a fictional account of the life of Mozart, one of history's most renowned composers. Although the title suggests Mozart to be the protagonist, it is really Salieri and not Mozart who occupies the centre of the stage and whose mind we are invited to enter. It was interesting to see the life of this musical genius through the eyes of Salieri, who arguably had less talent but invested more effort. I believe that Salieri's distress is something we can all relate to, as it is not a novel experience to feel inferior in the face of someone gifted with natural abilities. Throughout the course of Salieri's fixation with besting Mozart in the musical scene, perhaps nothing will ever feel as tragic as the moments in the asylum when Salieri plays his compositions with no recognition from the priest's end, only to have the clergyman successfully identify one of Mozart's pieces. 

In a society that values perfection, mediocrity is possibly the worst curse an individual can bear. Hence, I do not think that the greed and envy that drove Salieri to the brink of insanity was so far-fetched after all. Salieri's conflicting emotions over his disdain of Mozart's childish tendencies and his grudging admiring of Mozart's independence was interesting to watch, and although it would have cheapened the story, a happy ending would have been satisfying to watch.