marital roles

• Nora and Torvald represent a completely conventional marriage at the beginning of the play: she stays home and tends to their house and children, and he supports the family financially
• In order to keep their conventional marriage afloat, Nora lies to Torvald at every turn. When these lies come to light, Torvald completely breaks down and drives Nora away. 
• Torvald, as a conventional husband, feels that he has the right to control his wife; he’s astonished when Nora says that it’s “nice” of her to do what he wants. This perceived right to control is another reason their marriage falls apart
• Torvald must control every aspect of his household, even the keys to the letterbox, but he fails to realize that his control comes at a price. As long as he exerts control over Nora, they can never be equals, and thus cannot be in true union or partnership. 
• In contrast, the relationship between Krogstad and Mrs. Linde, while unconventional, represents the “real wedlock” that Nora desires by the end of the play
• Mrs. Linde’s role as the breadwinner of the family is highly unusual, but it gives her the agency to earn money and the opportunity to live part of her life outside the home. Furthermore, Mrs. Linde and Krogstad can speak frankly to each other (something Nora and Torvald find impossible until their marriage falls apart), meaning that they don’t have to hide behind contrived marital roles
• Torvald's reaction cements Nora’s disillusionment with her marriage, and with marriage in general—she comes to the conclusion that not only does Torvald not love her, but that the institution of marriage, as it is conceived and practiced in her society, may make love impossible.
• While Krogstad and Mrs. Linde's joyous choice to marry may suggest that the play does not entirely share Nora's view, it is important to note that their marriage does not at all conform to the norms of society.