In Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, Dr. Rank is a character who provides a sharp contrast to Torvald Helmer.
Dr. Rank is an honest man who is dying, while Torvald is a dishonest man who is healthy.
In fact, Dr. Rank and Torvald are both members of the middle class, but they differ greatly in their outlook on life and how they live their lives.
Rank is a doctor who has been treating Nora when she has been ill and he has become aware of her unhappiness in her marriage. He tells her that if she wants to leave Torvald he will help her get away with the money she has been saving in preparation for this moment. When she asks him how long he thinks he has to live, he says “not long.” He knows that he won’t be around for her if she leaves Torvald now so he tells her to wait until after his death before leaving him so that she won’t have to face life alone at such a young age with no one but herself to rely on for support.
Torvald on the other hand is very healthy and does not seem sick or weak at all even though he does not work outside of the home like Nora does all day long taking care of their children and doing housework as well as working at the bank where she earns money from helping people with their finances.
