Why all the fuss over the clock in the masque of red death?

In Edgar Allan Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death," the clock symbolizes the inevitability of death and the passage of time. Its ominous chime serves as a constant reminder to the revelers of their mortality, contrasting with their attempts to escape the Red Death by isolating themselves in a luxurious abbey. The clock's presence heightens the tension and underscores the futility of their attempts to evade fate, ultimately culminating in the tragic realization that no one can escape death. This theme resonates with the story's exploration of human vulnerability and the inescapability of time.