How does Shakespeare match Time, Place and Action in The Tempest? Or, Comment on Shakespeare's observance of the dramatic unites in The Tempest.

How does Shakespeare match Time, Place and Action in The Tempest?

Or,

 Comment on Shakespeare's observance of the dramatic  unites in The Tempest.

The 'Classical Unites' of Time, Place and Action derive from certain conventions which developed in Greek drama during the classical period. According to the Unity of Time, the time covered by the action of the play should not exceed the length of time taken to perform the drama or should not in any circumstances exceed twenty-four hours. The Unity of Place required that the scene Of the action should be the same throughout the play and the Unity of Action implied that a play should have a single plot or story. Shakespeare follows the classical unities closely in The Tempest but he does not adhere to them rigidly because he wants to make his play realistic.

As for the Unity of Time, the play can be performed in two to three hours and the action on the island spans about four hours. In the play the audience's attention is drawn frequently to the time of an occurrence. We are told, for example, in a conversation between Ariel and Prospero approximately when the shipwreck occurs: Prospero : "What is the time of the day?"

            Ariel   . "Past the mid season".

Prospero : "At least two glasses. The time betwixt six and now" (Act 1, sc 2)

Thus the storm occurs before two. Prospero and Ariel again refer to the time just before the various problems are resolved in the final act.

Prospero : "How's the day?"

Ariel : On the sixth hour, at which time, my lord, you said Your work should cease." (Act V. Sc I)

To maintain Unity of Place, the entire action occurs on the island, excepting the first scene, which takes place on board the ship. Yet even here Shakespeare deviates from convention. Many of the episodes occur in different parts of the island. Ariel explains to Prospero that he has taken care of those involved in the shipwreck and he has dispersed them in troops about the island. Thus the audience can know that there are a number of groups scattered about the island. All of these groups eventually make their way to Prospero's cell wherefrom all the actions are directed.

Regarding the Unity of Action, the play has a single plot—

Prospero's efforts to regain his dukedom, although certain scenes (such as the episode of Stephano and Trinculo, the episodes Involving the masque, etc.) have no direct bearing on the main theme.

Thus, Shakespeare does not use the unities in a mechanical way. Perhaps, he knows that blind adherence to the conventions may lead to artificiality. So he uses the unities in The Tempest to such an extent as they can give vitality and reality to his dramatic art.