A Doctor In The House

968 Words2 Pages

A Doctor in the House
Henrik Ibsen's character, Dr. Rank, in "A Doll's House" is an important component of the play, though he is not a lead character. Rank enhances the story in his own right as a character, but mainly serves a greater purpose as an accentuation of Nora'a character. Nora's relationship with Rank is equal, and perhaps it implants in Nora's mind the idea that relationships should be equal. Their relationship brings up questions about social correctness and even the values necessary in a marriage. Essentially, Dr. Rank's purpose is to refine the audience's understanding of Nora's character.
Dr. Rank's presence establishes the lack of communication between Nora and her husband. Nora confides in Dr. Rank, involving him in secrets and everyday conversation. For instance, Rank is the first character to be let in on Nora's secret plan to take Helmer on a "vacation," supposedly paid for by her father. Also, Rank refers to Christine Linde as "a name I have often heard in this house," when Helmer is virtually unaware of Linde's existence (Ibsen 542). The quote further indicates Rank and Nora share things in which Helmer is not included. Rank is like a messenger for the couple on one occasion when Nora finds out about Helmer's new job from the doctor. Nora asks Rank, "Tell me Dr. Rank--will everyone who works at the bank come under Torvald now?" (542). These conversations help to conclude that most of Nora's meaningful and informative conversation is not with her own husband.
Furthermore, the doctor encourages Nora to confide in him; "You can say it to us…say it, here he is," says Rank, urging Nora to do as she wishes around him (542). Nora seems to divulge her thoughts to Rank and not Helmer, relaying an inward struggle in Nora to do as she wishes. She lies to Helmer about the macaroons, but hastily reveals her hidden snack to the doctor. Rank and Nora's relationship shows Nora's longing for independence from Helmer and society's rules. Even Mrs. Linde, a relatively liberated woman, feels Nora's intimate relationship with the doctor is curiously inappropriate. Linde is shocked that Nora would speak with Rank about the debt behind Helmer's back, to which Nora replies, "I've got to get out of this other busine...

... middle of paper ...

...ra's father, and then subsequently, how they see Nora. Ibsen makes the hereditary flaws available in Rank in order to make the theme clear. While Rank's flaws end with his death, Nora's bad traits threaten to rub-off on her children, continuing the line of bad heredity.
According to Helmer, Rank's dark life "accentuates the light of their marriage," but the importance of the character, Dr. Rank, is to accentuate the darkness of Nora's life. Rank's life parallels Nora's situation until the role reversal at the end. Throughout the play, both suffer the consequences of morally corrupt fathers; Nora has her secret debt and Rank with his illness. Rank's announcement of death also marks the end of the masquerade, literally and figuratively speaking: Nora's masquerade of a content marriage is over as well as the ball that are her last moments of "fun." Instead of dying when Rank dies, however, Nora is reborn as an independent woman in society. Her situation may again parallel Rank's; there is uncertainty associated with death as there is definite uncertainty as to Nora's fate.

Show More
Related

  • Major Works Data Sheet A Doll's House By Henrik Ibsen

    768 Words  | 2 Pages

    Dr. Rank’s death can be seen as a symbol for Nora and Torvald’s marriage, since he dies around the same time as when Torvald reads Krogstad’s

    Read More

  • Literary Analysis Of Henrik Ibsen's The Story Of An Hour

    868 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the beginning of the play Nora seems to be a spoiled housewife with no regards for money and doesn’t have a sense of savings. Later the reader finds out that she has went to great lengths to not only save her husband’s life, but to repay a debt that she accumulated without her husband’s knowledge. Helmer starts out as the loving, devoted husband, but when he finds out of his wife’s loan he turns on her and the threat to his social standing and reputation are too much for him. It’s not about his wife and her feelings it becomes all about him. Krogstad starts out as a bitter, spiteful, blackmailer, and when life starts to turn around and he finds love he also finds forgiveness and peace. Mrs. Linde begins as someone who appears able to stand on her own two feet, but later the reader realizes that she is lonely and just wants someone to care for. Dr. Rank seems to be a close family friend, but it is revealed that he only comes by out of the secret love he has for Nora (Ibsen). This is the primary source of our

    Read More

  • Examples Of Diction In The Raven

    477 Words  | 1 Pages

    The loss of a loved one is heartbreaking. People wish they could still be here as if they never left. What’s hardest is letting go and learning to move on. In,”The Raven”, the narrator lost his wife Lenore and was left with heartache and sorrow. He couldn’t find a way to move on so he retained his depression and started to suffer. Poe exerts diction, syntax, allusions and symbolism to create the tone of depression showing that the raven symbolizes the melancholy and sanity of the narrator.

    Read More

  • The Role Of Women In 'A Doll House And Simply Maria'

    1256 Words  | 3 Pages

    This leads Nora into a frenzy of techniques to convince her husband into not firing Krogstad, however; Nora had been the one who recommended Mrs Linde to work for Helmer, who is now the one replacing Krogstad. After many attempts, Nora is unable to convince Helmer to keep Krogstad. The last day she seems hopeless and willing to assume the consequences, she has a final opportunity at getting away with it; by finding out Mrs Linde and Krogstad have unsolved romantic affairs and that he is deeply in love with her. This new development convinces Krogstad to be with Mrs linde, but unfortunately the previous letter telling everything about the debt and forgery was already in Helmer’s mail. When the night comes for Helmer to read his mail, he finds out about the note and Nora’s mistakes, he is quick to think of a way to come up clean, while at the same time dishonoring Nora for her actions. “ Oh, what an awful awakening! In all these eight years-she who was my pride and joy-a hypocrite, a liar-worse, worse-a criminal” (Doll Act 3). Nora’s attitude at this point is guilt and shame. Soon after another letter is received. Krogstad sends the note, implicitly liberating them from all guilt and also attaches a letter apologizing and explaining the events that recently took place in his life,

    Read More

  • The Practices of Dr. Rank in A Doll's House

    1741 Words  | 4 Pages

    The roles that Ibsen gives Dr. Rank are crucial in the reader's understanding of the plot. The functions that Rank performs are able to move the story along, adding connections that force the reader to think about the appearance and reality of the major characters' personalities. The greatest achievement in the play is that of breaking down the walls of society, enabling Nora to evolve. Ibsen is able to do this through the connections he provides through Dr. Rank in A Doll House.

    Read More

  • A Doll's House Realism Essay

    1918 Words  | 4 Pages

    While eating and lying about macaroons may seem trivial, why would one need to lie about a trivial matter? Not only does she lie about eating the macaroons to her husband but also once to Dr. Rank. The most serious deception is that of the loan that she took out in order to save her husband’s life. While this is an extravagant lie we can find it in ourselves to forgive Nora because her actions were selfless. Perhaps if Torvald could accept his wife instead of constantly feeling the need to control her she would not have lied to him. Once Nora reveals her deceptive act to Mrs. Linde we begin to see Nora’s character in a whole new light. One that is much more mature and determined than previously thought. It isn’t until Mrs. Linde accuses Nora of not knowing a hard day’s work that she finally reveals her greatest secret. It is through their common experience of sacrifice that unites them and brings them closer together

    Read More

  • Essay On Decriminalizing Prostitution

    528 Words  | 2 Pages

    The opposing side of prostitution involves extensive negativity. It may be the oldest profession in the world but numerous people feel that this line of work is wrong and refuse to change their opinion of the subject. In addition, many feel that this job is deemed too dangerous to be legalized. Women will experience more violence by choosing this profession. Also, by engaging in sex with a complete stranger it is considered selling a person’s body making prostitution unethical and inhumane (Wurth, Schleifer, McLemore, Todrys, & Amon, 2013). The rates for sexually transmitted diseases tend to have higher statistics in the prostitution ...

    Read More

  • Character Analysis Of Nora In A Doll House

    1168 Words  | 3 Pages

    Nora decides not to confide in Dr. Rank because he professes his love for her. She realizes that the friendship is not what she thought and feels somewhat of a betrayal and mistrust. Dr. Rank asked if telling Nora of his feelings was mean and Nora explains that it wasn’t, but it was quite unnecessary. Nora explains to Dr. Rank that he filled the position of her childhood maids. She would talk to the maids and they never tried to improve her. Dr. Rank was that friend, but he changed their friendship by wanting more from

    Read More

  • An analysis of A Doll’s House main theme: Independence

    932 Words  | 2 Pages

    The theme in the play is widely centered on independence, as Nora shares her experiences with it during the beginning of the play. In Act I, it is Christmas Eve and Nora is decorating the house while Dr.Rank and Mrs. Linde visit the household. Nora and Mrs. Linde began talking, and Nora starts to reminisce about the time when she and Torvald had first gotten married and she was required to work to earn extra money because they were having financial difficulties. Nora looks back on that moment and has fond memories although the working world is seen as a “man’s” world; she reveled in the independence to make...

    Read More

  • Henrik Isben's A Doll's House

    1292 Words  | 3 Pages

    8. Nora's secret crime confessed to Christine Linde, a childhood friend, had been to save her deathly ill husband's life by borrowing money. She borrowed the money from Krogstad, without getting her husband's permission. As Nora and Christine palaver about their lives, Nora explains the financial hardships they had. "...Torvald left his office . . . There was no prospect of promotion . . . during the first year he overworked himself dreadfully . . . but he could not stand it, and fell dreadfully ill, and the doctors said it was necessary for him to go south." Since he was in danger of dying, Nora's explanation was that the doctors urged them to live in the South for a year; yet they thought Helmer should not know how ill he really was.

    Read More

  • The Legalization Of Prostitution

    1428 Words  | 3 Pages

    Prostitution is defined as the exchange of sex acts for anything of value-money, drugs, alcohol-to name a few. The term prostitution is used synonymously with sex labor. There has been a long debate about legalizing and decriminalizing prostitution despite its damaging effects and other related criminal activities, even if there is an economic benefit from its activity. Prostitution should not be legalized for this reason.

    Read More

  • Rock Music And Social Impact On American Social Change

    2453 Words  | 5 Pages

    The radio disc jockey leads in with, “And now, here’s a number from the Rolling Stones!” The drums throb, the guitars wail, and Mick Jagger belts out, “It 's only Rock and Roll, but I like it!” America liked it, too. From its roots in black gospel to its modern version, rock music has evolved along with and because of American societal changes. By the late 1940’s and early 1950’s, Americans were enjoying a prosperity that had not been seen since before the Great Depression of the 1930’s. This prosperity, along with other changes, helped to bring about a new American music as well. Since its beginnings in the 1950 's, rock music has been a reflection of and a catalyst for American social change.

    Read More

  • Symbolism in 'A Doll's House' by Henrik Ibsen

    1645 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...ows that Nora’s emotional ties do not lie with Torvald, but with Dr. Rank, and ultimately, herself.

    Read More

  • Prostitution: Should It Be Legal?

    677 Words  | 2 Pages

    The oldest occupation in history, prostitution is one of the only occupations in which those who practice it are not protected by law in many first world countries. That however, sets the stage for disaster; women can get beaten and raped but will not report it out of fear of getting arrested themselves. To protect prostitutes and their patrons, voluntary prostitution of those over the age of eighteen in inevitable and must be legalized.

    Read More

  • The Sweet Life of Prostitution...or Not!

    1072 Words  | 3 Pages

    According to Frey, prostitution is defined as “acting against one’s convictions in order to get a reward” (Frey, 2003). Prostitution at one point of time and still may be a controversial issue within society, some may think it’s illegal for a woman to go out on a corner and sell her body and others may it’s an easy way to make a living. Prostitution is seen by many women as easy making money for their family, drug habits, paying off drug debts, etc. but could lead to many complications such as diseases, death, arrest, etc. In one study, 67% of a group of law enforcement officials expressed the opinion that women did not enter prostitution voluntarily (Raymond, 2003). Raymond also mentions that 72% of social service providers did not think that women voluntarily choose to enter the sex industry (Raymond, 2003).

    Read More

More about A Doctor In The House

Open Document