The judge suggests that the paths of various entities—whether celestial bodies like moons, small objects like coins, or humans—are influenced by the constraints that bind them. This metaphor reflects the idea that just as a moon's orbit is defined by the gravitational pull of its planet, human lives and experiences are shaped by their circumstances and limitations.

This notion evokes the interconnectedness of existence, where the tether represents the factors that define one's freedom and choices. In Cormac McCarthy's "Blood Meridian," this theme is explored through the lives of its characters, illustrating how external forces dictate their trajectories and ultimately their fates.