Independence and Failure in Macbeth Early 16th century peasants are often depicted with a bundle of branches tied with vines on their backs. This is a perfect metaphor for the events of Macbeth. Macbeth is one of many thanes, or limbs, grouped together. The thanes are united by the king, or by the vine. Scotland, or the farmer, carries the bundle with the sweat of his brow. They carry the fasces for fires on cold nights, or in wars, and to build houses, or castles, to protect them from the elements, or from invaders. If limbs are tied improperly, a limb can slip to the side and cause the farmer, or the nation, to stumble or fall. If the limb slips completely out, the rest of the limbs may follow because the bundle is loose. Marriage is like a triangle. Each spouse constitutes one of the sloped sides and marriage the lower side. The three together are very strong, but to resist they must all be united. The longer a marriage lasts, the longer the bottom stretches and the more dependent each person becomes on the other. If one side tries to stand on its own, the second will fall onto the first while trying to stand. This metaphor also excellently exemplifies the catastrophe that occurs in Macbeth when both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth try to separate. Macbeth is an 18th century play written by William Shakespeare. Using these two metaphors, the breakdown of the relationship between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth and between the king and the thanes and how they are perfectly parallel to each other because each is caused by Macbeth's will to be independent. According to Webster's dictionary, the archaic definition of independence is "competence" (1148). Being independent does not mean being “subject to the control of others” (Gove 1148). This means that independence means having control over your decisions and feeling that they are good decisions. Macbeth, on the other hand, believes that independence means not being subordinate to others like the king. To be independent, you have to be strong. Inner strength is needed, not physical strength. Inner strength is only achieved by having high self-esteem. Macbeth does not and must use others to achieve independence. Macbeth needs this strength: it [Macbeth] hurls a universe against a man, and if the universe it strikes is more impressive than the man it strikes, however great his frame and gaunt as his soul, will fall..