Final answer:
In the parable, Abram symbolizes the authorities that command wars, and Isaac represents the youth who are sacrificed, alluding to the biblical story yet contrasting with its ending to highlight the stubbornness of war.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the parable “The Parable of the Old Men and the Young,” Abram and Isaac represent the tragedy of authority and youth in the context of war. Abram, as the elder, is symbolic of the leaders and authorities who command wars, often at the expense of the young, represented by Isaac. Their interaction in the parable depicts authority’s adherence to war and sacrifice despite the availability of alternatives, mirroring the biblical story of Abraham and Isaac where God commands Abraham to sacrifice his son but later provides a ram as a substitute, which contrasts with the parable’s ending where Abram chooses not to spare Isaac but to proceed with the sacrifice, highlighting the futility and stubbornness of war.