Preface to Shakespeare : Summary

Summary

Dr. Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) wrote “Preface to Shakespeare” in 1765. In it, Johnson praised Shakespeare for his realistic characters, universal themes, and use of language. Johnson defended Shakespeare against criticism but also pointed out his faults. This preface is one of the most important critical essays on Shakespeare’s works.

Shakespeare’s Realistic Characters: Johnson says that Shakespeare’s characters represent real human nature. His characters have natural emotions and act according to their age, sex, and profession. Their speech is appropriate to their role. Shakespeare does not exaggerate his characters. Even when he uses supernatural elements, the dialogue remains realistic.

Shakespeare’s Practical Wisdom: Shakespeare’s plays are full of practical wisdom. His works are not just about love but about different human emotions like ambition, jealousy, and revenge. His plays show real life, not just idealized romance. Johnson believes that Shakespeare’s plays can teach us about life.

Defence of Tragicomedy: Many critics blame Shakespeare for mixing tragedy and comedy in the same play. But Johnson defends him. He says that in real life, joy and sorrow exist together. So, Shakespeare’s method is more natural. Even though it goes against classical rules, it makes plays more interesting and realistic.

Effect of Tragicomedy: Some critics argue that tragicomedy weakens tragedy. But Johnson disagrees. He says that Shakespeare knew how to create variety. Too much sadness in a play is not enjoyable. A mix of emotions makes a play more powerful.

Shakespeare’s Comic Genius: Johnson believes that comedy was easy for Shakespeare. He wrote comic scenes naturally, without much effort. His comic dialogues are realistic and have remained popular over time. They are neither too crude nor too refined. His comedy still entertains audiences today.

Shakespeare’s Tragic Style: According to Johnson, Shakespeare worked harder on his tragedies. However, Johnson thinks that Shakespeare’s tragedies are not as strong as his comedies. His tragedies show skill, but his comedies come from instinct.

Defence of Shakespeare’s Violation of Classical Unities: Johnson discusses the three classical unities—Unity of Action, Unity of Time, and Unity of Place. He believes that only Unity of Action is important. He says that Shakespeare followed the Unity of Action because his plots had a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Shakespeare did not follow the unities of Time and Place. But Johnson says this is not a problem. Audiences know that a play is not real life. If they can imagine that actors are kings and queens, they can also imagine changes in time and place. Drama is a form of illusion, so it does not need strict rules.

Imitation and Reality in Drama: Johnson says that drama does not have to be completely realistic. People enjoy plays not because they think they are real but because they remind them of authentic experiences. Shakespeare’s plays move people emotionally because they show human emotions truthfully.

Faults of Shakespeare: Johnson admits that Shakespeare has some faults:

• He writes without a clear moral purpose. He focuses more on entertainment than on teaching.
• His plays do not always have poetic justice. Good characters do not always win, and flawed characters do not always get punished.
• His plots are sometimes weak and loosely formed.
• He misses opportunities to teach moral lessons.
• His plays contain mistakes in historical facts and periods.
• His jokes are sometimes crude and inappropriate.
• His narration can be long and difficult.
• His speeches are sometimes too long and full of unnecessary words.
• He overuses puns and wordplay, which sometimes weakens serious moments.

Merits of Shakespeare: Despite these faults, Johnson praises Shakespeare’s outstanding achievements:

• He perfected the use of blank verse, making it flexible and natural.
• His characters show a wide range of human emotions.
• His plays are universal and timeless.
• His works continue to entertain and teach people even after centuries.

Dr. Samuel Johnson’s “Preface to Shakespeare” is an important critical work. He highlights Shakespeare’s greatness but also discusses his flaws. Johnson admires Shakespeare’s realistic characters, emotional depth, and natural dialogue. He defends Shakespeare’s use of tragicomedy and rejection of strict classical rules. While he points out Shakespeare’s faults, he believes that they do not reduce his genius. Johnson’s analysis helps readers understand why Shakespeare remains one of the greatest writers in history.