Farquhar s lack of control over time and the limited time left in his life are very evident in his reaction to the ticking of his watch The watch ticks off the seconds left in Farquhar s life like a death knell 1 5 a bell rung to announce that someone has died As he hears his watch ticking he knows he can t control the time that is passing Instead his mind creates an alternative reality one in which he escapes 