Three Unities

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Name                  :      Jeel  J. Vyas

Roll no                :    15

Paper no            :      3.literary Theory & criticism Western-1

Class                   :     M.A. sem 1

Topic                  :    Literary term Three unities.

Enrolment no   :     2069108420190045

College               :      Smt.S.B.Gardi Department of English.

Email id              :      jeelvyas15@gmail.com

Submitted        :       Department  of English M.K.B.University .

Introduction :

                 The idea of unities in drama and tragedy is derived by French Classicism from Aristotle's poetics. That unities required a play to have single action represented in a single place within a course of the day. These principle called, Unity of Time, place and action.

                 These three unities were redefined by Italian humanist Lodovico Castelvetro in his interpretation of Aristotle in the year 1570.  Three unities are usually referred as Aristotelian rules for dramatic structure. When we talk about Aristotle we come to know that his observation of Tragedy are descriptive rather then prescriptive. He put stress on only one unit that is of plot or an action.

                     French Classical Tragedy, the unities were adhered to literary and become the source of endless critical palemices. According to this story of Tragedy must of last 24 hours of hero and in the single place means a room or a city.

               The prestige of this unities continued to dominate French drama until the Romantic era.

The unity of action :

A play should have one main action that it follows with no or few subplot.

              When we talk about the plot with unity of action we must remember the Triangle Of Freytag.  It is most important because of its three parts and they are Begging, middle and end. When play began it’s with rising action then we find climax in middle of play from where the falling action starts and the end of the play come.

              The plot must be with wholeness. Wholeness of beginning, middle, end. According to Aristotle ideal plot do not have a subplot. The best example of is the play “ Romeo and Juliet”. We find old rivalry is a subplot of the play.

                The combination of incident are must be one. The story of one person. If we find subplot in story that story does not following Unity of action. Aristotle is against the plurality of action because he believes that it weakens the tragic effect. He thinks that number of incident should be connected to each other in manner that they must be conducive to one effect.

                In Aristotle’s poetics, he explain his theory of Tragedy. According to that plot is important aspect of the tragedy. He consider plot as a soul of Tragedy. He defines plot is the “ arrangement of incident.” Therefore the plot must be complete with everything in it. This is how “ unity of action” come in to play.

               Scene must be relevant with each other. Scene must be relevant with it’s previous and setting up to the next. The play must be self relent. It  can not relay upon any outside force to insure it’s unity of action. This outside force are called dues-ex-machina. In which some sudden change solves the problem of the play. The example of this can be seen in Shakespeare's tragic play Macbeth. The unity of action depends on character. But we find that witches prophecy leads to Macbeth’s murder of Duncan. The Duncan’s sons plan revenge upon him. And this force Macbeth for more murder.

             Unity of action defines the progression through a plot. It also helps audience to connect their self with play and motivate them to see what happens next . Therefore unity of action become a powerful tool used to distract from lapses on logic and plot holes.

                If in a play unity of action manage in a good way then no one question the logic of what's happening at that moment because this details buried within many action.

Unity of time :  

           “ The  action in a play should cover over a period of no more then 24 hours”

                 According to Classical tradition the action of the play should occurs in one revolution of sun. According to them if it is a Tragedy then that is a last day of hero. You cannot show that hero's childhood or action that is done previously. If author wants to say something from hero's past then he must use course.

                  Now a days when we talk about movie and series we can see that they use flashback technique to show action done in past. They can show like this because things are recorded. But when we talk about the classical for them using this type of technique is difficult because their audience is live. What ever happening is in front of audience not in front of camera. When this things is done by camera it is easy to use this technique. But when audience is live it’s difficult that is why they believe that when the tragedy began it must be the last day of hero. Because it is easy to show when audience is live.

                 The unity of time supposed action to duration roughly of a single day. Aristotle meant that the length of the time represented in a play should be ideally speaking the actual time passing during it’s presentation. The example of Aristotle concept can be seen in comparison between epic Beowulf and tragedy Macbeth.

                The action on Beowulf takes place in span of well over five years. We can see that when Beowulf is first introduce he is in Daneland to help Hrothgar rid Hearot of Grendel. After successfully defeating Grendel he rules over there five year.

                And when we talk about Macbeth we cam see that audience does not give specific time line. This audience can only assume that correct action goes in Malcolm and Donalbain to travel England and Ireland. The play does not name anytime it could be seen as one continued action.

                 Limiting the action of the play like giving your self as a writer a time limit by which to resolve your story. Though the unity of time is useful there are successful plays which do not follow Unity of time. For example Chekhov's Three Sister, Arthur Miller’s A View From The Bridge and Cheryl Chruchill's For And Away.

Unity of place :

“ A play should exist in a single physical space and not attempt to compress geography nor should stage represent more then one place”

           When we talk about ancient time we can see that the play were perform live. That time there is no recording like we have now a days. We see movie record by camera so, if they show multiple places it’s ok.  But that time there is no recording  so, if they change place many time it’s difficult for audience to image  stage as  place where the thing is going on. We also have to remember that if the place change so many times then they have to change background according to place. So, change settings so many times is also difficult for  crew member as well as actor to ready according to place and thing. So, if the place is one it is easy to perform.

                  When we talk about Aristotle we have see that he never mentioned the unity of place. The doctrine of three unities which has figured so much in literary criticism. Renaissance cannot be paid to his account. He is not the author of it, it was foisted in on him by the Renaissance critic of France and Italy.

                In the transaction period the stage must be transferred from one place into another causes an interruption in action, flow, and pacing of the story, sometime pulling audience, member out of the story. Seeing set pieces and furniture moved by stage hands and actors breaks the willing suspension of disbelief for some audience and remind them that they are seeing a play Instead of seeing a slice of reality behind an invisible fourth well. Unity of place is less expensive and easier to physically manage.

Example of play which follow all three Unity :

                   Odious Rex is best example because it follows all three unities. It follows Unity of time because the events of the play within the time span of one day. The action which take place in past are reported by messenger. So, we can say that it follows Unity of time.

                    It follows Unity of place because everything happens in the palace steps. If Oedipus wants to speak with  anyone who is not present like Teiresias they sent at the palace. Oedipus doesn’t go to anywhere else.  So, we can say that Unity of place is followed in play.

                    Unity of action is followed because whatever happens in a play is related with Oedipus himself. Oedipus and his immediate investigation into Laius's murder and then his own history and parentager. We do not find any subplot in a play. So, we can say that the play follow the unity of action.

      Through this we can say that Oedipus Rex is best example of three unities which is follows all this unities.

Conclusion :

                    This three unities are rules for drama derived from a passage In Aristotle poetics. This unities are followed by so many writer and plays. Though there are the play which do not follow this unities but they are successful play. Through this we can say that the rule of three unities is made to understand play in better way.