The Pit and the Pendulum (Right then left...)

"Down-still unceasingly-still inevitably down! I gasped and struggled at each vibration. I shrank convulsively at its every sweep. My eyes followed its outward or upward whirls with the eagerness of the most unmeaning despair; they closed themselves spasmodically at the descent, although death would have been a relief, oh! how unspeakable!"                                -The pit and the pendulum page. 275

This quote describes what I believe to be the most suspenseful and scary moments of the pit and the pendulum. Most likely this quote was put in the story for the sole purpose of creating feelings of unease, doubt, and most indisputably to create suspense. Just the thought of a big iron pendulum slowly inching its way down on our hero’s chest sends shivers down my spine and questions flowing through my head about weather of not our narrator can escape this ordeal. This quote also illustrates important symbolism of a ticking clock. The pendulum which is intended to bring about the narrators death is slowly, but surly getting closer and closer to killing him which adds this ticking clock element to the scene.