How does the description of the clock contribute to the development of the story's theme the masque of the red death

The theme of the story is "inevitably of the death and futile try to escape it" and the ebony clock in the seventh room was the symbol of "inevitability of death".

Explanation:

"The Masque of the Red Death" is a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe. The story is Gothic fiction.

In the story, Poe has tried to rendition to the age-old story of Everyman. Poe's story deals with illimitable dominion of death and its omnipresence, and futile try of people trying to escape the death.

The Ebony clock in the Seventh Chamber of the Prince's "castellated abbey". This ebony clock was the symbol of the inevitability of death. This clock constantly reminded the revelers of the death. Just as revelers were unable to stop the pendulum of ebony clock from ticking, they were unable to stop the death approaching.

In the end, Prince and the revelers all die and were not able to escape death. Even the strong and lofty walls and the iron gates could not stop "Red Death" to enter the abbey. This leads to the development of the story's theme.