Johnson as a Critic and Biographer of Shakespeare

Answer

Evaluate Johnson as a critic and biographer of Shakespeare.

Samuel Johnson’s (1709-1784) “Preface to Shakespeare” (1765) is a significant literary work in which he shares his thoughts and criticism of the renowned playwright William Shakespeare (1564-1616). Johnson’s analysis provides valuable insights into Shakespeare’s plays and their impact on the English literary tradition. In this essay, we will explore Johnson’s criticisms and observations.

Diversity of Characters: Johnson commends Shakespeare’s ability to create many characters, each with unique traits, flaws, and motivations. He praises the depth and complexity of Shakespeare’s characterizations, which range from noble kings to mischievous fools.

Natural Dialogues: Johnson appreciates Shakespeare’s skill in writing natural-sounding dialogues. He believes that Shakespeare’s dialogues accurately reflect the language and expressions used by people in everyday life, contributing to his plays’ realism.

Historical Accuracy: Johnson commends Shakespeare’s attention to historical detail in his historical plays. He believes that Shakespeare’s thorough research and accurate portrayal of historical events and figures make his works informative and entertaining.

Language and Wit: Johnson praises Shakespeare’s command over the English language, noting his innovative wordplay, clever puns, and poetic language. He considers Shakespeare a master of wit, whose plays are filled with memorable quotes and phrases that have become part of the English literary canon.

Structural Critique: Johnson, however, critiques Shakespeare’s tendency to veer off into subplots, which sometimes results in a lack of coherence and focus. He argues that this excessive proliferation of subplots can distract the audience from the main storyline and dilute the impact of the play.

Use of Supernatural Elements: Johnson questions Shakespeare’s inclusion of supernatural elements, such as ghosts and witches, in his plays. He suggests that these elements often disrupt the sense of reality and diminish the overall impact of the narrative. Johnson believes that Shakespeare could have achieved even greater success by focusing on more natural and relatable themes.

Lack of Moral Purpose: Dr. Johnson says Shakespeare’s plays have no poetic justice. According to Samuel Johnson, 

He sacrifices virtue to convenience and is so much more careful to please than instruct, that he seems to write without any moral purpose.

Johnson has also condemned that,

He makes no just distribution of good and evil.

He does not always brightly present his virtuous characters as being victorious over the evil ones. Rather he takes his characters through right and wrong and carelessly dismisses them at the end. Just as a neo-classical critic, this is so serious to Johnson. Because according to him. 

It is always a writer’s duty to make the world morally better.

Lack of Decorum: Johnson points out instances where Shakespeare’s characters speak in a manner that seems inconsistent with their social status or role. He argues that Shakespeare sometimes sacrifices the rules of decorum for the sake of dramatic effect, which can create inconsistencies in character development.

Irregular Verse: Johnson criticizes Shakespeare’s use of irregular verse, which deviates from the established rules of poetic meter. He believes that this irregularity can disrupt the rhythm and harmony of the verse, making it less pleasing to the ear.

In termination, Samuel Johnson’s “Preface to Shakespeare” comprehensively critiques William Shakespeare’s works. While Johnson acknowledges Shakespeare’s brilliance as a writer, he raises valid concerns about aspects such as the lack of unity, faults in language, use of supernatural elements, moral ambiguity, and disregard for decorum.