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After drunkenly leaving the party, Rank goes to Torvald and requests a cigar.  As a symbol, what meaning could the cigar to the play?

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Cigars are often symbols of male power and prestige in life and literature. Interestingly, Helmer possesses an entire box of nice cigars, though, Dr. Rank, has no cigars. This is parallel to the control Helmer has over Nora and the other good things in his life; however, Dr. Rank desires, but cannot have Nora, and is dying of an uncontrolled disease. The cigars help further the rift between the characters Helmer and Rank.

Cigars are typically passed out in celebration, such as when a child is born.  Rank receives his test results earlier that day, and although they are morbid, for him they are a rebirth.  The unknown is terrifying, and Rank is comforted in the certainty of his fate.  He is not celebrating his death, but his last hoorah.

Also, the cigar could symbolize Dr. Rank's death. He mentioned how he was dying from the habits of his father; the drinking and partying. When Rank asked for a cigar, he was almost surrendering to his illness because at this point, one cigar would not make anything worse.  He wanted to leave in style and class and what better way to do it than with what he believed was a fine delicacy.

When people die they tend to do some sort of outlandish thing right beforehand because what do they have to lose?  Some go skydiving, or buy something expensive, or even travel the world.  Dr. Rank's way of doing this "final send-off sort of thing" is smoking that cigar.  He realizes he is going to die soon no matter what he does, so he chooses to continue to live life rather than be sorrowed by it and asks Helmer for a cigar to smoke on his drunken walk home.  By this point, it seems Dr. Rank has completely accepted his fate of imminent death.

I really enjoyed reading the posting by "jakemitchell." I would have never looked at it this way, but I must say thank you for opening my eyes! You're brilliant!

I personally feel that the cigar is a wonderful symbol of envy in A Dolls House. As the story progresses we learn that Dr. Rank not only is dying from an illness, but he is also in love with Torvald Helmer's wife. In addition to having a beautiful wife and a healthy bod, Helmer has a full box of cigars. In a final attempt to get a "puff" of what Torvald's life must be like, Dr. Rank requests one last smoke.