It would actually depend on how the story would actually be depicted in this case. The verbs would then be how this man was describing this other man, and due to this, this would then be the way that this could have been the way that this would then be "intended".
Depending on where you are brought up, and the difference in society, you will see different things and people will have different beliefs in symbolism. For example, seeing a bird in a picture for a Christian may represent a dove and be seen as peace, but for someone else it may be seen as a vulture and represent death
