1. Perhaps the most notable character trait in Othello is the one that seems the most anomalous--his trusting nature. Such a nature is unusual in a successful field general, someone who could be expected to trust only himself as a way of assuring success. Othello, however, places his trust in all his lieutenants, including Iago, someone who should not be trusted at all. If it were not for Othello's trusting nature, Iago's plot would not work at all.
Othello trusts Desdemona as well, which is why his belief that she has betrayed him has such a devastating effect on him. If he were a less trusting individual, he might be cynical enough to pass it off as no more than he expected from her. Since he is not cynical but trusting, he is all the more hurt by this betrayal. He would not be looking for such a betrayal on his own and has instead been guided by Iago, and he does not mistrust Iago precisely because of his own trusting nature.
The unfolding of the play presents the viewer with the image of a great man seduced into mistrusting all the ideals and beliefs that have previously sustained him. Iago's analysis of Othello's character is absolutely correct, as Iago himself proves. Iago says that Othello believes in the honesty of people even though they may not be honest. Iago himself is the character Othello believes in the most, and Iago is deceptive. Othello's strength is also his weakness in that he is a man of ideals who believes in those ideals to the point where he is blinded to the reality and deception of the world. When he is seduced into believing in a false deception--namely, that Desdemona has betrayed him--he questions every heroic act, every noble gesture, and every honest emotion except the ones he should question, those raised for him by Iago. His trust in Iago is evident early in the play when he says to the Duke, referring to Iago:
A man he is of honesty and trust. To his convey...