Final answer:
The "pressure" represents a sense of powerlessness for McTaggart. This weight upon his chest conveys the overwhelming burden he feels, suggesting a lack of control or agency over his circumstances.
D. powerlessness
Step-by-step explanation:
It's not merely dread, humiliation, or ignorance, but rather the palpable weight symbolizes a profound feeling of being unable to change or alter the situation he finds himself in.
This sense of powerlessness is vividly illustrated through the imagery of an "insupportable" weight, emphasizing the intensity of McTaggart's emotional and psychological state. It captures a moment where he's overwhelmed by the weight of some external force, rendering him unable to free himself from its grasp. This feeling of powerlessness might stem from various factors—internal struggles, external pressures, or a combination of both—ultimately culminating in this suffocating sensation.
The image of the wooden disk pressing upon McTaggart's chest is a metaphor for the suffocating grip of powerlessness that he experiences in this situation. This sensation conveys the extent to which he feels constrained and unable to break free from the overwhelming force bearing down on him.