Obsidian and Alabaster: Othello and DesdemonaThe marriage of Othello and Desdemona was doomed from the start. Even considering the racial nature of their marriage, the lack of a consistent home, and the inappropriate methods of courtship, there is another reason why their marriage would never have worked. Othello's label on Desdemona prevents him from seeing her as a person. Rather, he considers her superior to himself in every way, to the point that she is a god. Her race, beauty, and status make her pious in her mind. Because Othello considers Desdemona “Alabaster” (5.2.5), he will never consider her capable of reciprocating his love. Because Othello is at his wits’ end when he calls him “Alabaster,” he speaks from his heart. . After Othello reads the letter from Venice, he begins to speak less coherently. For example the sentence “Pish!” Nose, ears and lips. Isn't that possible? Confess! Handkerchief! Oh devil! » (4.1.42) contains none of Othello's old eloquence. He begins to speak with word associations rather than complete sentences. For example, the word “confess!” brings up the words “Handkerchief!” » and “Devil! ". Because Desdemona, the handkerchief, and the feeling of wickedness were so present in his mind, he begins to express with abstract words and ideas instead of sentences. Although this makes his lines harder to read, they show us what he is constantly thinking about. Instead of clear, concise lines, they are a torrent of his true feelings. Therefore, when he describes Desdemona as “Alabaster,” we can be sure that this is his inner image of her. Alabaster's beauty gives you an idea of ​​his feelings of bodily inferiority towards her. Alabaster is a naturally beautiful stone, used by the ancient Egyptians and Chinese to make statues and vases. This choice of words gives the reader an idea of ​​his feelings of inadequacy to Desdemona. He is never said to be ugly, on the contrary, he is described as “much more beautiful than black” (1.3.291). He must have felt some sensitivity about his physical appearance. In contrast, he describes her face as "beautiful as the face of Dian" (3.3.389), Dian most likely being the god of healing in Celtic mythology. It involves both beauty and health. He then goes on to say “filthy and black as my own face” (3.3.390). Othello superimposes his young, clean face with his old, black, filthy face. The fact that he believed her to be unfaithful with Cassio further proves his insecurity..