Othello monologue act 1 scene 3 analysis. From a general summary to chapter summaries to explanations of famous quotes, the SparkNotes Othello Study Guide has everything you need to ace quizzes, tests, and essays. This free synopsis covers all the crucial plot points of Othello. A short summary of William Shakespeare's Othello. A Christian Moor and general of the armies of Venice, Othello is an eloquent and physically powerful figure, respected by all those around him. Important information about William Shakespeare's background, historical events that influenced Othello, and the main ideas within the work. . A short summary of William Shakespeare's Othello. Othello’s violent plan to achieve justice is rooted in his sense that he has complete ownership and control over his wife, and that he can literally decide whether she lives or dies. In spite of his elevated status, he is nevertheless easy prey to insecurities because of his age, his life as a soldier, and his race. SparkNotes Othello recalls the time when he was blissfully unaware of Desdemona’s alleged betrayal, and as a result he lived in happy ignorance. Now that Iago has awakened jealousy and suspicion in him, he cannot think about anything else. Othello is the story of a noble military general who has enjoyed many successes on the battlefield, but because of mistakes of judgment and his outsider status in his society, sabotages his most intimate relationship and himself. Othello is a tragedy because it tells the story of a noble, principled hero who makes a tragic error of judgment, leading to a devastating climax in which most of the characters end up either dead or seriously wounded.