Conflict and Harmony in the Storm William Shakespeare describes a "utopian" world saturated with supernatural images and ideas that works to create the mysterious island where the storm takes place. This is one of Shakespeare's best examples of how a natural harmony is revealed through the actions of speech and confusion. To best illustrate this idea, we must examine the historical context on which The Tempest is based. Because this piece was published in the early 1600s, controversial cultural and political events undoubtedly surface. Additionally, by analyzing the subplots of the play, the reader better understands Shakespeare's purpose for including multiple plots, which is to create conflicts that all have a different context but coexist to create a more natural harmony. Finally, it must be recognized that the moral conflict that the characters face in The Tempest is crucial to understanding the harmony that is created. For example, it is important to realize that while the play ends with reconciliation for most of the characters, it does not have the same effect on all of the characters. Therefore, by examining the effects of historical context, the inclusion of subplots, and the importance of moral conflict, the reader can take a more holistic approach to understanding how Shakespeare finds a harmonious conclusion in The Tempest. In 1623, The Tempest debuted in the First Folio of Shakespeare's Works (Hirst 36). Historically, this play is different from Shakespeare's later plays in that he divides it into acts and scenes and leaves the island unnamed (Hirst 36). In other plays such as Twelfth Night and The Merchant of Venice, where the same natural harmony is ultimately middle of paper...... F. (Ed.) Shakespeare: Modern Essays in Criticism. New York: Oxford, 1957. Hatch, James V. Black Theatre, United States: 45 Plays by Black Americans, 1847-1974. New York: The Free Press, 1974.Hay, Samuel A. African American Theater: A Historical and Critical Analysis. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1994. Hill, Errol (ed.). The Theater of Black Americans: A Collection of Critical Essays. New York: Applause Theater Book Publishers, 1987. Hill, Errol. Shakespeare in Sable: A History of Black Shakespearean Actors. Amherst: The University of Massachusetts Press, 1984. Marshal, Herbert and Mildred Stock. Ira Aldridge: The Negro Tragedian. Rockcliff: London, 1958. Hirst, David. Notes on The Tempest. London: Ginn, 1969. Vaughan, Alden T. and Virginia Mason Vaughan. Shakespeare's Caliban: A Cultural History. New York: Cambridge, 1991.