Preface To Shakespeare by Samuel Johnson
An influential 18th-century critical essay argues that the greatest dramatist's apparent violations of classical rules—irregular plots, mixed comic and tragic elements, and loose adherence to the unities—are outweighed by his vivid, lifelike characters, moral seriousness, and deep understanding of human nature. The critic emphasizes the use of common sense and historical context in judging plays, defends plain yet expressive diction, calls for careful textual editing and attentive performance, and insists that dramatic art should be evaluated by its ability to instruct and move rather than by rigid adherence to abstract rules.
Purchase from
Bookshop.org
- Published
- 1765
- Nationality
- English
- Length
- Unknown
- Pages
- Unknown
- Original Language
- English
- Avg User Rating
- No ratings yet
- Alternate Titles
-
- Johnson's Preface to Shakespeare
- Preface to the Plays of William Shakespeare
This book is not currently on any lists.