What is the role of the old man in "Her First Ball?"

The old man serves as a reminder that life is not perfect.
Even in Leila's dreamy environment, there is a reality check when the old man claims
that Leila will too grow old and find herself sitting with the old women on stage who
are not dancing.

The old man is a realistic picture of
life. He casts a shadow on Leila's perfect evening. He ruins her evening momentarily. He
brings Leila back down to earth. She was floating on ecstasy, but the old man reminds
her that life is not always glamorous. Eventually, the young at heart will grow old and
have to face the reality of old age. Although this is all true, Leila did not have to be
reminded of such a dreadful description of old age on her magical
evening:

Leila
laughs at the fat man's words, though they bother her inwardly because she realizes that
they are essentially true. One day she will grow old; then no one will dance with her,
and she will become one of the
chaperons.

In every fairy
tale, there is also a dreadful person who tries to steal someone's happiness. The old
man serves as Leila's evil doomsday speaker. He serves as the wicked stepmother or evil
queen. Leila's perfect evening is ruined until she meets the young man with curly hair.
Dancing with him brings back the magic she is enjoying, even if it is only
temporary.