The initial descriptions of the rich man and Lazarus match in an inverted sort of way, with contrasting qualities in corresponding categories (economic standing, physical appearance, and eating), and yet a meaningful imbalance still exists. The pairs "rich" & "poor" and "feasted sumptuously every day" & "desired to be fed" are complete opposites, but the rich man's appearance is described in more detail than Lazarus'. He "was clothed in purple and fine linen" while Lazarus was "covered in sores." These two elements (πορφύραν καὶ βύσσον) surpass Lazarus' one (εἱλκωμένος) and show the rich man's abundance.
I'd noticed before that after the rich man is condemned to Hades, he persists in thinking that Lazarus is beneath him, wishing to give him the tasks of a servant: first to cool the rich man's tongue and then to warn the rich man's brothers. Hearing the story again, I realized that even the way the rich man speaks illustrates this point of view. He never talks to Lazarus directly; instead, he sends all of his requests through Abraham, even though Lazarus is right next to Abraham: "he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue... send him to my father's house... so that he may warn them.'" The rich man ignored Lazarus when he was at his gate, and he continues to keep him at a distance even in his torment.
