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Dr. Rank is the embodiment of Nora's own fantasies.  She talked several times of a rich man dying and leaving a will of his money in her name.  His role is to show the ridiculous notion that Nora had of a rich man dying for her.  In a way, Rank does die for Nora, but not to leave her any money.  Rather, he dies to show her how foolish she had become.  Haley pointed out that all of Nora's and Rank's conversations were very childish, and that is true.  But in Rank's revealing his love for Nora at the same time he reveals his doomed future, he becomes a catalyst for the change that Nora goes through in the final scene of the play.

In reply to #2:

I agree with you. Rank's purpose in the play is to support the idea that "there are those you love and those people you'd almost rather be with." Nora, although seemingly childish, understands that she made a choice and has responsibilities. I think at this point she is beginning to understand how trapped she is. Once again, she immediately brings up a "prettier" topic, like her costume. You can see her pathetic attempt to distract herself.

Dr. Rank does serve a purpose in the play.  He is a pessimistic representation of love and death. He also is a measure of Nora's growth as a person.  In their first couple of interactions Nora's childish behavior controls the entire situation and when Dr. Rank confronts Nora about his love and quickly approaching death we expect a more mature reaction.  However, this does not come until later in the play.  Dr. Rank is a big catalyst of Nora's changing persona throughout the play.

His appearance in the play shows the weakness of a man. Krogstad and Torvald remain strong and fill their roles in society, but Dr. Ranks illness and love for Nora shows the weak side of a man. His ability to show his weak sid makes him stonger than the other two because it suggests his courage and that he doesn't care about his outer appearance.

Dr. Rank's character has a strong purpose of contrast in the play. He represents desperation and decay. Dr. Rank is a man who is dying at an early age. He brings out the wealth and happiness that nora and torvald still ahve in their lives (although, of course, they still are unhappy in other aspects). Dr. Rank almost makes the reader feel sorrowful which clearly doesn't occur when looking at the character's of Torvald and Nora.

I feel that Dr. Rank's character is especially interesting because he directly contrasts the other male figures of the play. Krogstad and Torvald play the other male roles, and both of these men are strong-willed and confident. On the contrary, Dr. Rank is a dying, weak soul. He is a great example of the loss of hope in the play.

In reply to #1: I disagree. I believe he plays a hugely important role in the play. He is a symbol for the life Nora yearns for. If she could be free and independent, she would be with Dr. Rank. He represents Nora's freedom. He also has important traits himself. He is a vulnerable character, who locks himself up to die. He is a nice counterpart to Nora, who is actually very strong as we can see when she leaves in the end. He helps Nora see the light and helps the reader see that there is a different side to Nora; she is not just some doll.

Dr:Rank has a very small and weak role in the play.One of the definiation of the word "Rank" in its noun form is "a high position ".Perhaps Ibsen has chosen this name to be ironic ; none of the characters place him highly in their thoughts.