The correct answer is 3. Unities of Place and Time, and here's a deep breakdown to help clarify why this is the right choice, drawing from both theoretical and historical context, particularly in relation to Samuel Johnson’s “Preface to Shakespeare” (1765).
Background on the Three Unities
The Three Classical Unities are derived from interpretations of Aristotle's Poetics and were formally codified during the Renaissance by French and Italian critics. These are:
Unity of Action – A play should have one main action with minimal subplots.
Unity of Time – The action should occur within a 24-hour period.
Unity of Place – The play should be set in a single physical location.
Samuel Johnson's Position in “Preface to Shakespeare” (1765)
In his Preface, Johnson argues against the strict enforcement of these unities, especially Time and Place. His reasoning is based on the belief that:
Shakespeare’s genius lies in his ability to portray human nature and universal truths, not in conforming to rigid structural conventions.
Johnson defends Shakespeare’s frequent disregard for Time and Place. For example, Shakespeare often shifts scenes across continents and covers events over days or years.
However, Johnson praises Shakespeare’s adherence to the Unity of Action, as most of his plays focus around a coherent plot or central conflict.
Directly from Johnson's ideas:
"The necessity of observing the unities of time and place arises only from the supposed necessity of making the drama credible. But the truth is, that the spectators are always in their senses, and know, from the first act to the last, that the stage is only a stage..."
This shows Johnson rejecting the unities of Time and Place as essential, considering them optional and only valuable for specific dramatic effects, like heightened concentration or realism.
Year-wise PYQs
