Macbeth

Peasants of the early sixteenth century are often pictured carrying a bundle of limbs

tied with vines on their backs. This is a perfect metaphor for the events in Macbeth.

Macbeth is one of many thanes, or limbs, bundled together. The thanes are united by the

king, or the vine. Scotland, or the peasant, carries the bundle by the sweat of his brow.

They carry the bundle for fires on cold nights, or wars, and to build homes, or castles, to

protect them from the elements, or invaders. If the limbs are tied improperly, one limb

may slip to the side and cause the peasant, or nation, to stumble or fall. If the limb slides

completely out, the rest of the limbs may follow because the bundle is loose. Marriage is

like a triangle. Each spouse makes up one of the leaning sides, and marriage the lower

side. The three together are very strong, but to stand they all must be united. The longer

a marriage is held the longer the bottom stretches, and the more dependent each person

becomes on the other. If one side tries to stand on its own then the second will fall on the

first as it tries to stand. This metaphor also excellently exemplifies the catastrophe that

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According to Webster’s dictionary, the archaic definition of independence is

“competence” (1148). Using these two metaphors, the

breakdown in the relationship between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth and between the king

and the thanes and how they perfectly parallel each other because each is caused by

Macbeth’s will to be independent. She also began to realize the wickedness of her sin for she said, “all the perfumes of

Arabia will not [could not] sweeten this hand” (V, I, 53-5). (III, iv, 54-9)

With little effect, she struggles to keep order but gives up and has the thanes “stand not

upon the order of your going” (III, iv, 120-1). Macbeth, on the other hand, feels independence is to not be

subordinate to others like the king. At the end of

Act I, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are discussing whether or not to assassinate the king (I,

ii). To be independent is not to be “subject to control by others”

(Gove 1148). Not until he kills the grooms with his regret

does Macbeth become totally independent from the thanes and slide from the bundle of

limbs (II, iii, 108-19). Macbeth does

not and must use others to reach for independence. Since the nation was restored to order, his death

was for the better. Macbeth as both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth try to separate. His answers do

not give him sufficient strength for he vows to make “assurance double sure and take a

bond of fate” (IV, i, 83-4). Lady Macbeth is merely detested; and though the courage of Macbeth preserves some esteem, yet every reader rejoices at his

fall” (Johnson 484). She is no

longer “unsexed” and strong so she can not sleep.

To be independent, one must be strong.

Approximate Word count = 1843
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

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