Nora Helmer
Quote 1
NORA: "How painful and humiliating it would be for Torvald […] to know that he owed me anything! It would upset our mutual relations altogether." (1.197)
The Helmers' marriage is based on maintaining a veneer of male dominance.
Nora Helmer
Quote 2
NORA: "Christine is […] is frightfully anxious to work under some clever man, so as to perfect herself—" (1.282)
Nora's relationship with her husband seems to be built on careful manipulation of his ego.
Nora Helmer
Quote 3
NORA: "But don't you think it is nice of me, too, to do as you wish?"
HELMER: "Nice?—because you do as your husband wishes? Well, well, you little rogue, I am sure you did not mean it in that way." (2.82-2.83)
Comments like this from Torvald demonstrate that the Helmers are in a lopsided marriage.