What does the author use to symbolize angels in the first paragraph?

The narrator describes
his trial, taking place during the Spanish Inquisition, the room in which the trial takes place,
and even the appearance of his judges.He describes the candles burning atop the table in this
room, seven candles in all, and he says, at first, that "they wore the aspect of charity,
and seemed white slender angels who would save" him.However, the narrator soon realizes
that the candles are not good angels at all but "meaningless spectres," with flaming
heads, who would offer no help to him whatsoever.They are uncaring, apathetic to his pain, and
they offer him no compassion.This transition seems to signal the fact that the narrator will
receive no mercy from his persecutors; he is not being watched over by some benevolent creatures
but rather by something ghastly and terrible.