The pit and the pendulum

All hints point toward death and obscurity, more specifically: the pit and the pendulum. Every circumstance seems to lead the main character to certain death, but something unexpected happens: he escapes. However, we don’t see much of the escape; we remain focused on the pit and the pendulum. What matters is his misfortune, which is what Poe wants us to experience. Poe is drawn to illustrating misfortunes.