What about the rich man tormented in a flame Luke 16:24

[LittleLambofJesus]

Luke 16:24 shows a rich man being tormented in a flame.
Why is he there and who is he symbolizing in the Bible?
Any views would be appreciated.

Luke 16:24
And he shouting said--Father Abraham! be thou merciful me! and send Lazarus!
that he should be dipping the tip of the finger of him of water, and should be cooling down the tongue of me,
--that I am being pained in this, the flame/phlox<5395>

 

[Shempster]

Well, the narrative explains that he was rich and selfish. He loved himself and his riches over the weak and the poor.
Jesus is not saying that it is a sin to be rich, but rather it is a sin to have the means to help others and yet ignore them. So the rich man simply symbolizes anyone with a heart like that, and he was accusing the Pharisees of being just that.