Three unities - Literary Terms
Three unities - Literary Terms
The three unities are the concept of that a drama should follow three rules: (1) unity of action; (2) unity of time; and (3) unity of place. Aristotle discusses unity of action in his Poetics and suggests the need for some sort of unity of time but never mentions unity of place as a dramatic principle. But the Neo-classical in the Renaissance, studying his works – created the impression that he had laid down three rules for the construction of a drama. As understood by the Renaissance critics and the dramatists who followed their dictates, the three unities were:
1. Unity of action: All the action of the work must occur within one continuous plot without unnecessary sub-plots. 2. Unity of time: All the action of the work must occur with in twenty four hours, or one whole day. 3. Unity of place: All the action of the work must occur in one place or city so that the actors would be able to visit any scene in the time required to perform the play.William Shakespeare following them only in Comedy of Errors and The Tempest. Ben generally disregarded Jonson's Volpone and, in the modern theatre Tennessee Williams the unities, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof are examples of plays that observe the unities.
Share This Post
