Samuel Johnson’s contributions to literary criticism are foundational, particularly in his analyses of poetry and drama. His critical perspective blends moralism with aesthetic evaluation, a hallmark of his seminal work Lives of the Poets (Johnson 1779–1781). Johnson emphasizes moral instruction and the pragmatic function of literature, arguing that literature should serve not only as a source of aesthetic pleasure but also as a guide to ethical living. His critical method often assesses literary works based on their adherence to universal moral values and their capacity to instruct and improve society. He contends that literature should cultivate virtue and wisdom, reflecting an eighteenth-century Enlightenment belief in the didactic role of the arts. This approach set a precedent for subsequent critics, reinforcing the notion that literature is both an art form and a means of moral edification. Johnson’s moralist perspective, however, was not purely prescriptive; he acknowledged the complexities of human nature and the power of literature to capture the full range of human experience.