Rank is a doctor who is best friends with Torvald and Nora, who he visits every day. Dr. Rank suffers from spinal tuberculosis, a condition he believes was caused by his father's vices, which included having extramarital affairs and consuming too much luxurious food and drink.
But he's got a terrible disease – he's got spinal tuberculosis, poor man. His father was a frightful creature who kept mistresses and so on.
Rank's talk of moral disease and his own affliction are often cited as symbolic. He has tuberculosis of the spine. This could possibly be meant to represent the diseased backbone of unenlightened society, a society where men and women don't live as equals. His death also could be seen as symbolic.
Rank is a significant one. Not only does it underscore the "pollution and infection" which a guilty parent can pass on to his children — Nora being the guilt-ridden parent, Rank the victim of venereal disease — but it shows the youthful innocence of Nora.
Answer and Explanation: In A Doll's House, Dr. Rank reveals to Nora Helmer that he is both ill and in love with her. His tuberculosis of the spine symbolizes the decay of society.
At first, Nora's interaction with Dr. Rank is similarly manipulative. When she flirts with him by showing her stockings, it seems that she hopes to entice Dr. Rank and then persuade him to speak to Torvald about keeping Krogstad on at the bank.
Rank is more attentive to Nora than her husband is, but she prefers Dr. Rank's attention to fill in Torvald's gaps rather than to replace him. When he is with both Helmers, Dr. Rank jumps in to help or speak up for Nora where he can.
Torvald expresses sadness, but decides that Dr. Rank's death might be best for everyone, since it will make Torvald and Nora “quite dependent on each other.” He tells Nora that he loves her so much that he has wished in the past that Nora's life were threatened so that he could risk everything to save her.
Rank and Nora's very friendly relationship with one another also allows further understanding of Nora and Torvald's marriage as it shows the distance that lies between them.
While he thinks that such a bad character is in direct contrast to his “sweet little Nora,” we are aware that Krogstad and Nora have committed exactly the same crime—forgery.
Rank suffers from spinal tuberculosis, a condition he believes was caused by his father's vices, which included having extramarital affairs and consuming too much luxurious food and drink. Dr. Rank is unmarried and lonely, and over the course of the play it is revealed that he is in love with Nora.
She tells Nora that she should stop talking to Dr. Rank because Nora tells Rank more of her secrets than her husband and Dr. Rank is wealthy and single.
Meanwhile, Dr. Rank always shows respect to Nora. He validates her feelings and thoughts whenever he stops by their house. Also, it seems like he shows much more interest in Nora's personality and choices than Torvald.
Krogstad is the antagonist in A Doll's House, but he is not necessarily a villain. Though his willingness to allow Nora's torment to continue is cruel, Krogstad is not without sympathy for her.
Rank (Male age 30-50)—Medical doctor who is an old family friend of Nora and Torvald.
Torvald Helmer – Nora's husband, a newly promoted bank manager, professes to be enamoured of his wife but their marriage stifles her. Dr. Rank – a rich family friend (named "Peter Rank" in Michael Meyer's translation).
Nora is a victim of the male-dominated society of the nineteenth century. To save her husband, Torvald, she borrows money so that he might be able to recover from a life-threatening illness in a warmer climate.
Nora procured money and told Torvald that her father gave it to them, though she really raised it herself. Nora's father died before Torvald had a chance to find out that the money didn't come from him. Nora has kept the source of the money a secret because she doesn't want his “man's pride” to be hurt.
Nora's Influence on Early to Mid Twentieth century Chinese literature. Regardless of Lu Xun's warning, Western literary figures, like Nora in A Doll's House (1879), came to be seen as great examples of New Women to female and male readers of the time.
Although this at first seems like a betrayal of Nora, it turns out to ultimately be a decision to Nora's benefit as it is after Torvald finds out about the debt that Nora is able to see the true nature of her marriage. This twist confirms Mrs. Linde's belief that honesty is always better than deceit, even if Mrs.
What secret has Nora been keeping from Torvald? She was in love with his brother before she married him. She borrowed the money they used to take a trip to Italy. She had an affair with Krogstad five years earlier.
Dr. Rank does add to the somber mood of the play, even if he is not essential to the conflict, climax, or resolution. He chats with the other characters, admiring them, all the while knowing he will never be important to any of them and expresses that.
Dr. Rank asks a favor of Nora, telling her that Torvald is sensitive and he does not want him to visit him as he dies. He promises to send his visiting card with a black cross on it when he knows he is in his final days.
Why is Doctor Rank jealous of Mrs. Linde? He says Mrs. Linde will take his place as the Helmers' friend.
Krogstad as the Antagonist in A Doll's House
The first character to be compared is Nora, the undoubted protagonist of the play.