Hamlet question 2

Changing views over time:

Starting with earliest

1. Ben Johnson (1623)- Critisised Shakespeare for failing to stick to the classical unities, but said he was worthy of comparion with the ancient Greek Tragedians.

2. Samuel Pepys (1688)- Praised the role of Hamlet as "the best part, I believe, that ever man acted"

3. Voltaire (1748)- "It is vulgar and barbarous drama, which would not be tolerated by the vilest populance" .... "the work of a drunken savage". Voltiare went on to say that many…