e audience.
Real Life is Mixed: Johnson says real life is not just sad or just happy. People experience both emotions every day. Shakespeare’s plays show this natural balance. For example, “Hamlet” (1623) has deep tragedy but also funny scenes with gravediggers. Johnson believes this mix makes the play feel more human. Strict separation of comedy and tragedy would make drama artificial. Shakespeare’s way is more accurate to life. Johnson praises this mixing followingly.
“Shakespeare has united the powers of exciting laughter and sorrow not only in one mind but in one composition.”
Balance of Emotion: Watching only serious scenes can be tiring. Johnson says variety makes plays more enjoyable. For example, “Macbeth” has dark moments and the drunken porter’s humor. This contrast keeps the audience interested. Pure tragedy might feel too heavy, while pure comedy may lack depth. Shakespeare’s balance gives both entertainment and emotional depth.
Comic Relief in Serious Plays: Johnson explained that comic scenes help in serious plays. They give rest to the mind. After a sad or tense scene, a funny moment helps the audience relax. This makes the next sad scene even more powerful. If a play is only serious, it becomes too heavy. Shakespeare used comedy to give the audience some relief. Johnson thought this made the plays more interesting and easier to watch.
Popular with Audience: Johnson also said that Shakespeare knew what the people liked. He wanted to entertain them. By mixing funny and sad scenes, he kept them happy and engaged. Even today, people enjoy these mixed plays. That shows Shakespeare understood human taste well. Johnson believed that drama is for the people. If they enjoy it more with both comedy and tragedy, then it is a good thing. It makes drama more successful.
More Natural Style: In Johnson’s view, mixing styles made Shakespeare’s work more natural. A play that shows only one kind of feeling is not like real life. Shakespeare’s way was better because it showed the full picture of human experience. Even when something magical happens, his characters speak and act in natural ways. This mix of serious and funny made the plays true to human nature. Johnson praised this as one of Shakespeare’s great skills. He says,
“Shakespeare's plays are not in the rigorous and critical sense either tragedies or comedies but compositions of distinct kind.”
To conclude, Johnson strongly defended Shakespeare’s way of mixing comic and tragic parts. He believed that this made the plays more real, enjoyable, and meaningful. Shakespeare showed all sides of life: joy, sorrow, love, and pain. Johnson said this is better than following hard rules. His plays give pleasure and also teach lessons. Johnson’s support helped people understand that mixed plays are not wrong, but more truthful to life.
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