In the "moral tale" the Pardoned tells, who is the old man? What is he meant to represent

The Old Man's symbolism is up to speculation. Many critics feel that the Old Man is a personification of Death. Indeed, one of the rioters suggests that the Old Man is "Death's spy." The rioters are, however, boorish and drunk so we might question their assessment of the Old Man. The Old Man could simply represent a man contented with God and his time on Earth: he is happy to die.