Final answer:
The Magic Flute embodies themes of Enlightenment and Romanticism, focusing on the conflict between good and evil, the pursuit of wisdom, and the romantic idealization of nature and love.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theme embodied by "The Magic Flute" often centers around the ideals of the Enlightenment and Romanticism--highlighting the struggle between good and evil, enlightenment and ignorance, and the search for wisdom and love. The opera, composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, is steeped in esoteric symbolism and explores profound themes through its character-driven narrative.
The benevolent priest Sarastro, whose costume design by Jenn Sheshko Wood for the Utah Festival Opera in 2022 reflects the opera's grandeur, represents rationalism and wisdom in contrast to the Queen of the Night's embodiment of dark forces. Furthermore, the theme of a yearning for natural and simple beauty, similar to the literary Romanticism movement that praised the innocence of pastoral life, aligns with the fairytale elements of the opera.