Who is more naturally suspicious of human nature- Othello or Iago?
"Two things are to be done:
My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress,
I'll set her on,
Myself the while to draw the Moor apart,
And bring him jump when he may Cassio find
Soliciting his wife. Aye, that's the way.
Dull not device by coldness and delay." II.ii.345-350
My first natural response was to say Iago because he is clearly the villain and suspicion is stereotypically a negative quality. However, Iago is never suspicious of human nature, rather, he is sure of it. He doesn't question if his plans to tear apart love and become lieutenant will work because he's confident that everyone will react the way he desires them too. For instance, he knew he could frame Cassio to look like he was sleeping with Desdemona, and he also knew it would infuriate Othello.
Speaking of Othello, he sure turned on his wife rather quickly. A few sly comments were all it took to convince him that his wife wasn't faithful. I find this to be peculiar because he confindentally proclaimed his love for her earlier in the story. He believes it is Desdemona's nature to cheat merely because Iago dropped a few hints and Cassio was polite.
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