The Morning Critic by Marifa Khan

blames Shakespeare for lacking morality in his plays. “I agree that art is
entertainment and Shakespeare provided that abundantly, however, art
should also teach morals and lessons. It should carry a sense of
practicality.” Johnson continues with the opinion that Shakespeare’s plays
lack a strong and effective plot due to inconsistent order of time and
chronology. When confronted with the fact that reality and universality
do not follow such chronology most times, Johnson falters and clears his
throat. “These are merely my strongly appraised opinions, do with it as
you will,” he says.
Shakespeare’s vulgar use of language is also negatively criticised by
Johnson. The critic claims to not be fond of the sexist jokes, informal
language and frequent puns found in the plays. Johnson says, “A
gentleman should only joke when the time is appropriate and in a
manner that is not so crude, and only then is the humour acceptable.”
Finally, Johnson points out Shakespeare’s inability to maintain the rules of
unities but professes that these inconsistencies are what make
Shakespeare a legendary figure in literature. “Shakespeare was able to be
appealing to a large audience due to these characteristics in his plays,
and was able to set himself to a standard only a few have been able to
reach since.”
EDITORIAL
CRITICS AND CLASSISM
T he world of literary criticism has only grown in the past few centuries
with many knowledgeable individuals sharing their opinions and advice
on literary genres, works, and creators. Reading the words of critics only
Page 5| The Morning Critic| 13 September, 2022