Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
Looks Like, Feels Like, Worms Like Pure Silk
Silkworms are a huge factor in Desdemona's life. She raises them in Greece, and then finds herself trying to raise them for the women of the Nation of Islam in Detroit. Her motto with silkworms is, "to have good silk, you have to be pure" (1.2.9). That motto could also be a way Desdemona rules her life, which sounds funny to say about a woman who marries her brother.
The worms are incredibly sensitive, and Cal even goes so far as to say that "silkworms reacted to historical atrocities" (1.2.9). We bet they get hay fever too, like, in the worst way. Or are super allergic to tree nuts. And dairy. What happens to the silkworms when they experience tragedy? Does their reaction remind you of any human character in the story?
The silkworms make a return when Desdemona gets a job at the Muslim Girls Training and General Civilization Class. To make a clumsy metaphor of our own, they help her weave two cultures together: her own Greek heritage, and the Muslim religion. The silkworms also reinforce gender stereotypes regarding women and submission. "You have to be pure," Desdemona tells the women in the class.
Cal mentions the Bombyx mori later, saying that the species "no longer exists anywhere in a natural state" (3.10.154). If we had a symbolism alarm, we'd be ringing it so hard right now. Can you think of any other tamed bodies in this book?
Worms in a Box
The worms are so important, they have their own box carved from olivewood that Desdemona carries them in. She keeps other things in the box after the worms die, including "two wedding crowns made from rope and, coiled like snakes, the two long braids of hair, each tied with a crumbling black ribbon" (1.1.8). Worms, rope, snakes, ribbon… the fabric of Desdemona's life.
We also see the silkworm box one last time, when Cal goes into Desdemona's room upon returning home for Milt's funeral. She's stuffed the box so full of mementos that she can't close it. Perhaps this is a good representation of Desdemona's life: so full, a silkworm box—or even a whole novel—can't contain it. Or maybe she's just an old hoarder. There's a pretty fine line between the two sometimes.