* Unity of time: The action should take place within a single day.
* Unity of place: The action should take place in a single location.
* Unity of action: The play should have a single, coherent plot.
Shakespeare's plays often violate all of these unities. For example, in Hamlet, the action takes place over several months and in several different locations, including Denmark, France, and England. The play also has several subplots that are not directly related to the main plot.
Shakespeare's disregard for the three unities is often seen as a sign of his genius. He was not afraid to break the rules of classical drama in order to create more dynamic and interesting plays.