Notes to Shakespeare, Volume III: The Tragedies by Samuel Johnson

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Notes to Shakespeare, Volume III: The Tragedies by Samuel Johnson

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By Sophie Smith Posted on Mar 18, 2026

In Category - Baking

Authors: Johnson, Samuel, 1709-1784 Published By : Johnson, Samuel, 1709-1784

Book Language: English

Hey, have you ever watched a Shakespeare tragedy and thought, 'Wait, what just happened?' I know I have. That's where Samuel Johnson comes in. This isn't a dusty old textbook; it's like having a brilliant, slightly grumpy 18th-century friend sit down next to you to explain the whole thing. Johnson tears apart 'Hamlet,' 'King Lear,' 'Macbeth,' and the rest, not to show off his smarts, but to show you why these plays still hit us so hard. He points out the moments that don't make sense, celebrates the lines that are pure genius, and argues about the characters as if they're real people. The main conflict here isn't in the plays themselves, but in Johnson's own wrestling match with Shakespeare's work. He's in awe of the poetry and the deep understanding of human nature, but he gets genuinely annoyed by plot holes and what he sees as moral carelessness. Reading this volume feels like listening in on a 250-year-old conversation about grief, power, madness, and love that's still completely relevant. If you want to move past just enjoying the stories to really understanding them, Johnson is your guide.

File: Notes to Shakespeare, Volume III: The Tragedies by Samuel Johnson

Let's be clear: this isn't a novel. Notes to Shakespeare, Volume III: The Tragedies is Samuel Johnson's famous 1765 edition of Shakespeare's plays, but the real treasure is in the notes he added to each page and the massive preface he wrote. Think of it as the world's most detailed director's commentary, written two centuries before DVDs existed.

The Story

There's no traditional plot. Instead, Johnson goes play-by-play through Shakespeare's tragedies. For each one, like Othello or Romeo and Juliet, he provides explanations of tricky words, comments on the action, and critiques the characters' decisions. He's not shy. He'll praise a beautiful speech about love, then turn around and call a plot twist "absurd" if he thinks it's unrealistic. The "story" is Johnson's journey of trying to pin down the genius of Shakespeare, celebrating his incredible insight into our hearts while also holding him accountable for messy storytelling.

Why You Should Read It

You should read it because Johnson makes Shakespeare feel alive and urgent. He doesn't put the plays on a untouchable pedestal. He talks about them like a passionate book club member. When he defends Shakespeare's use of comic relief in the middle of tragedy, you see the plays in a new light. When he gets frustrated with Hamlet's indecision, you realize people have been arguing about that for centuries. His notes cut through the old-fashioned language and point directly to the universal human feelings at the core: jealousy, ambition, despair, and love. It's the best kind of literary criticism—the kind that makes you want to immediately go re-read the source material with fresh eyes.

Final Verdict

This book is perfect for anyone who loves Shakespeare but sometimes finds him intimidating. It's for the reader who saw a powerful performance of King Lear and wanted to dig deeper, or for the student who needs a clear, opinionated guide. It's also a great pick for fans of smart, conversational non-fiction—you're really reading Johnson's brilliant, witty mind at work. If you prefer your literary analysis to be dry and academic, look elsewhere. But if you want to feel like you're learning from a fiercely intelligent friend, pull up a chair. Johnson's waiting.