“Johnson’s “Preface” [to the Plays of Shakespeare] takes a fresh look not only at the plays but at the first principles of criticism as well.” – Elucidate.

 Samuel Johnson's "Preface to the Plays of Shakespeare" is a groundbreaking work of literary criticism that takes a fresh look at the plays of William Shakespeare, while also reevaluating the first principles of criticism. Johnson's Preface was written in the context of the eighteenth century, a period marked by a growing interest in literary criticism and a desire to establish a set of rules and principles for evaluating works of literature.

One of the main ways in which Johnson's Preface takes a fresh look at the plays of Shakespeare is by challenging the prevailing view of Shakespeare as an irregular and careless writer. Johnson argues that Shakespeare's plays are marked by a profound understanding of human nature and a skillful use of language and imagery. He also defends Shakespeare's use of puns and wordplay, which had been criticized by earlier critics as evidence of his lack of seriousness as a writer. Johnson suggests that Shakespeare's wordplay is often used to reveal character and to create a sense of linguistic richness and complexity that is unique to his work.

In addition to his evaluation of Shakespeare's plays, Johnson's Preface also takes a fresh look at the first principles of criticism. Johnson argues that literary criticism should be based on the principle of "judicious imitation," which involves studying and imitating the works of great writers in order to learn from them. He also emphasizes the importance of historical context in understanding and evaluating works of literature, arguing that literary works cannot be properly understood without an appreciation of the historical and cultural contexts in which they were written.

Johnson's Preface is also notable for its rejection of the idea of "rules" of literature. Unlike many earlier critics who had attempted to establish a set of prescriptive rules for evaluating literature, Johnson argues that literary works should be evaluated on their own terms, rather than according to a set of arbitrary rules or standards. He emphasizes the importance of judgment and discernment in literary criticism, arguing that the critic's role is to evaluate a work of literature based on its merits and to recognize the unique qualities that make it a great work.

Overall, Johnson's "Preface to the Plays of Shakespeare" takes a fresh look at both the plays of Shakespeare and the first principles of criticism. Johnson's emphasis on the importance of historical context and the rejection of prescriptive rules established a new approach to literary criticism that would have a lasting impact on the field. His evaluation of Shakespeare as a great writer whose work is marked by a deep understanding of human nature and a skillful use of language has also been influential in shaping our understanding of Shakespeare's work.