Final answer:
The description of the narrator cutting out Pluto's eye helps build tension in the story due to its horrifying nature, foreshadowing of the narrator's descent into madness, and symbolic representation of moral blindness and decay.
Step-by-step explanation:
The description of the narrator cutting out Pluto's eye in Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Black Cat" helps build tension in the story through several means. Firstly, it adds a sense of horror and brutality to the narrative, as the act of mutilating an animal is alarming and disturbing. Secondly, it foreshadows the narrator's descent into madness and violence, as the act of blinding the cat parallels his later violent actions towards his wife.
The description of the eye being cut out also creates a sense of unease and suspense. Poe's vivid and detailed description of the act, such as the narrator's guilt at the sight of the eye, adds to the tension by allowing the reader to imagine the gruesome scene. This tension further intensifies as the story progresses and the consequences of the narrator's actions unfold.
Lastly, the act of cutting out the cat's eye serves as a symbolic representation of the narrator's moral blindness and loss of empathy. It foreshadows the narrator's own spiritual and moral decay, as he becomes increasingly cruel and detached from reality. This symbolism deepens the tension in the story as the reader witnesses the narrator's moral decline and anticipates further disturbing events.