Tolstoy’s Criticism of Shakespeare and Chekhov

Tolstoy despised Shakespeare. In his essay on Shakespeare, he wrote, “reading "King Lear," "Romeo and Juliet," "Hamlet" and "Macbeth," not only did I feel no delight, but I felt an irresistible repulsion and tedium…” He believed that the tendency of some writers and spectators to find non-existent merits in Shakespeare was the source of “great evil, as is every untruth.” When Tolstoy was bedridden due to illness at his home in Gaspra, Chekhov paid a visit. When Chekhov was leaving, Tolstoy whispered into his ear: “You know, I hate your plays. Shakespeare was a bad writer, and I consider your plays even worse than his.”