le sense of morality. Dually, Dr. Ranks humor serves as a comic relief in an otherwise serious play. . "Nora: Tell mewhat shall you be at the next ball? Rank: Well, I think I shall be invisible" (57). Rank, aforementioned, is as syphilitic. Ranks syphilis, more so, his open discussion of it, was considered extremely taboo in Ibsens Victorian era. But syphilis, being a sexually transmitted disease, is as basic an illustration of inter-gender relationships as one could hope to have. Ranks openness about his disease is a micro-reflection of the play as a whole: radical, taboo, but honest and truthful. The disease itself is also symbolic of Torvald and Noras relationship: a few painless chancres on the outside, but disintegration hidden away from the eyes, which ultimately leads to death.Dr. Rank and Christine are significant to the play in multiple ways. Most importantly, they contrast Torvald and Nora in a variety of ways. These contrasts bring highlight the Nora and Torvalds actions, motivations, and personalities. This strengthens them as characters and in turn, makes better the play as a whole. They also present vehicles for Ibsen to address other issues. Through Rank, Ibsen takes aim at sex, disease, and death, and through Christine, he speaks boldly about love verses money, and the hollowness of a purely serving lifestyle. A Dolls House without Christine and Rank would be but a "fool, who frets his hour upon the stage . . . signifying nothing."...
