Dessert: Meringues

At first bite, this delectable dessert simply melts in the mouth like a milk chocolate, its light flavor swirling around. Meringues are simple in their makeup and taste (as seen in number 1), yet they stand out from the rest with their unique nature. The faint sweetness from this treat can be related to the soft tone of Dr. Rank. Throughout the play, he has contributed by showing light but true and wholesome affection towards Nora. Unlike Torvald, Dr. Rank enjoys being around Nora for her actual personality instead of her facade of beauty and helplessness.

When first looking at meringues, they resemble a cloud from the way that the dollop of batter landed (in number 2). In A Doll's House, Dr. Rank acts as a cloud over the relationship between Nora and Torvald. It's stated that "his suffering and his loneliness seemed almost to provide a background of a dark cloud to the sunshine of our lives". Dr. Rank seemed to only serve the purpose of complaining about his own life, which set him in a bubble, devoid of major influence on any of the main characters. He just seemed to float across the stage, filling the room with negative vibes from his being. Probably if a person were to exist nowadays, they would be kept out of sight. Also with the meringue's makeup, there doesn't seem to be much support for its structure, since it acts like a spineless blob. In Dr. Rank's case, he hints that his spine is slowly collapsing, which shows that they both fail to support themselves.

Meringues are made by whipping egg whites and incorporating as much air as possible into the mixture. Just by looking at one, it doesn't take rocket science to spot that there are hundreds of holes and openings from air bubbles that formed during the cooking process (as marked by number 3). Biting into one, any consumer can sense the lightness and cloudiness of this dessert. The ghostly white adds even more to this unique characteristic. Dr. Rank, as well, is light and noneffective in his nature, only concerned about his upcoming death. He understands that nothing he says to others will matter in the future, since he isn't that notable of a specimen and has lost the love and affection of those who care about him.

Being a finger food (number 4), meringues don't necessarily need a plate or any utensils to be eaten. Just like these scrumptious treats, Dr. Rank does not ask for --or need-- much of any work or special treatment. Because he believes that he is close to death, he feels as if he may need time to contemplate the purpose of his own existence instead of getting caught up in other people's lives and giving them small tasks to do. Of course, with retirement the older generation generally wants to use their final moments on Earth for enjoyment, which sets the modern era apart from this play. It seems rather depressing that he is beside himself for all of A Doll's House and eventually lets his illness take him in the end.

This stormy cloud of a character followed his intended destiny and was eventually windswept and vaporized, leading to the termination of the four course meal.

Many thanks,

Chef Michael