Discuss Johnson's view on three unities in drama with references to Shakespeare's disregard of the unities of time and place inore than 800 words?

Samuel Johnson, a prominent literary critic of the 18th century, was a staunch advocate of the three unities in drama - unity of time, unity of place, and unity of action. He believed that adherence to these principles was essential for creating a well-structured and coherent play. On the other hand, William Shakespeare, a renowned playwright of the Elizabethan era, often disregarded these unities in his works, opting instead for a more flexible and expansive approach to storytelling. This essay will explore Johnson's views on the three unities in drama and examine Shakespeare's departure from these principles in his plays.

Johnson's views on the three unities can be found in his preface to the works of William Shakespeare, where he criticizes the Bard for his lack of adherence to these principles. According to Johnson, unity of time requires that the events of a play should unfold within a single day or a compressed timeframe. This, he believed, would create a sense of urgency and intensity in the dramatic action. Unity of place, on the other hand, dictates that the action of the play should take place in a single location, which helps to focus the audience's attention and maintain a sense of coherence. Finally, unity of action requires that the plot of the play should be tightly structured around a central conflict or theme, with no extraneous subplots or digressions.

In his preface, Johnson criticizes Shakespeare for his disregard of these unities, arguing that the Bard's plays lack the discipline and coherence that adherence to these principles would provide. He points to Shakespeare's tendency to span long periods of time, shift between multiple locations, and incorporate numerous subplots as evidence of his failure to adhere to the three unities. Johnson sees this as a weakness in Shakespeare's plays, which he believes detracts from their overall effectiveness and impact.

However, while Johnson may have viewed Shakespeare's departure from the three unities as a flaw, many modern critics and scholars see it as one of the Bard's greatest strengths. Shakespeare's willingness to experiment with form and structure, to push the boundaries of traditional dramatic conventions, and to explore complex and multifaceted narratives set him apart from his contemporaries and established him as a revolutionary figure in the history of drama.

Shakespeare's plays are known for their rich and diverse settings, which often span multiple locations and time periods. For example, in "Romeo and Juliet," the action takes place in both Verona and Mantua, and unfolds over a period of several days. Similarly, in "Macbeth," the action moves between various locations in Scotland and spans several years. Shakespeare's use of multiple settings and timelines allows him to create a more expansive and immersive world for his characters to inhabit, and to explore a wider range of themes and ideas.

Shakespeare's disregard of the three unities also allows him to incorporate a greater variety of characters and subplots into his plays. Unlike the strict adherence to unity of action advocated by Johnson, Shakespeare's plays are often populated by a diverse cast of characters, each with their own motivations, conflicts, and storylines. This complexity and depth of characterization is one of the hallmarks of Shakespeare's work, and is made possible by his willingness to depart from the rigid constraints of the three unities.

Furthermore, Shakespeare's departure from the three unities allows him to explore the complexities of human experience in a more nuanced and multifaceted way. By spanning multiple locations and time periods, and incorporating diverse characters and subplots, Shakespeare is able to create a more realistic and dynamic portrayal of the world and the people who inhabit it. His plays are not bound by the limitations of time and place, but instead reflect the messy, chaotic, and unpredictable nature of human life.

In conclusion, while Samuel Johnson may have criticized William Shakespeare for his disregard of the three unities in drama, many modern critics and scholars see this as one of the Bard's greatest strengths. Shakespeare's willingness to experiment with form and structure, to push the boundaries of traditional dramatic conventions, and to explore complex and multifaceted narratives set him apart from his contemporaries and established him as a revolutionary figure in the history of drama. Shakespeare's plays are known for their rich and diverse settings, their complex and nuanced characters, and their exploration of the complexities of human experience. By departing from the rigid constraints of the three unities, Shakespeare was able to create a more expansive, immersive, and ultimately more powerful body of work.