What do the rats symbolize in the pit and the?

In "The Pit and the Pendulum" by Edgar Allan Poe, rats symbolize the protagonist's fear and the creeping dread of death. Their presence amplifies the sense of Horror and entrapment, serving as a manifestation of the narrator's anxiety and the psychological torment he endures. Additionally, the rats represent the primal instincts of survival and the instinctual nature of living beings in dire situations. Overall, they highlight the themes of fear, mortality, and the struggle for escape.