Merits and demerits of preface to shakespeare by samuel johnson
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Answer:Shakespeare is such a poet and dramatist of the world who has been edited and criticized by hundreds of editors and critics Dr. Samuel Johnson is one of them. But among the literary criticisms about Shakespeare, ‘‘Johnson’s edition was notable chiefly for its sensible interpretation’s and critical evaluations of Shakespeare as a literary artist.’’ As a true critic in his Preface to Shakespeare, Johnson has pointed out Shakespeare’s merits or excellences as well as demerits. Let us now discuss Shakespeare’s merits as stated by Johnson.
Shakespeare’s greatness lies in the fact that he is ‘‘the poet of nature’’. Jonson says,
‘‘Shakespeare is, above all writers, at least above all modern writers, the poet of nature, the poet that holds up to the reader a faithful mirror of human nature.’’
His writings represent the ‘ general nature’, because he knows ‘‘Nothing can please many, and please long, but just representations of general nature.’’ Therefore his characters are ‘‘the genuine progeny of common humanity.’’ ‘‘In the writing of other poets a character is too often an individual; in those of Shakespeare it is commonly a species.’’ Thus Johnson indicates the universal aspects of Shakespeare’s writings.
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