In the story "The Pit and the Pendulum," what are the narrators strengths in his battle against the inquisitors?

One of the main strengths that the narrator possesses is
that of his rational ability to think through each situation that he finds himself in. 
As the inquisitors continually try and find new ways to drive him mad and force him into
the pit, he devises ways of understanding and coping with each situation, including
getting the rats to knaw through his bonds to free him from the table and death from the
pendulum.

His strength also lies in some ways in the fact
that he is confident in his innocence, that he does not deserve to suffer at the hands
of these men.