Guide Mentor

Character Role Analysis

The Old Man

The Old Man who the Three Rioters meet on their way to find Death tries his utmost to point these guys in the right direction and he advises them to respect their elders. When the Rioters respond to this advice by threatening him with violence, the Old Man probably figures they're beyond hope. At that point he tells them where they can find Death, knowingly sending them to find the eight bushels of gold. In an allegorical reading of the tale (see "Symbols, Imagery, Allegory"), we can even see the Old Man as representing Jesus, the ultimate Guide/Mentor in the Christian worldview.