Preface to Shakespeare - Samuel Johnson

Sacrificing Virtue for Convenience:
Johnson argues that Shakespeare sometimes prioritizes the demands of the plot over the moral lessons or the portrayal of virtue, leading to situations where characters act in ways that are not morally sound.
Lack of Poetic Justice:
Johnson felt that Shakespeare often failed to deliver poetic justice, where good is rewarded and evil punished, leaving the audience with a sense of moral ambiguity or injustice.
Loose Plots and Neglected Development:
Johnson criticized Shakespeare's plots for being loosely formed and lacking proper development, with characters sometimes acting inconsistently or without sufficient motivation.
Excessive Quibbles:
Johnson found Shakespeare's frequent use of puns and wordplay (quibbles) to be distracting and sometimes detrimental to the overall impact of the plays.
Social Class Distinctions:
Johnson felt that Shakespeare did not always effectively distinguish between social classes in his works or represent sentiments well.
Emphasis on Nature over Rules:
While Johnson appreciated Shakespeare's ability to portray human nature, he also noted that Shakespeare sometimes disregarded rules or conventions of drama, such as the unities of time and place.
Johnson's overall view:
Despite his criticisms, Johnson still saw Shakespeare as a great dramatist, emphasizing his ability to capture the essence of human nature and create timeless characters