The story begins in the living room of the Helmer's, it is described as "furnished inexpensively, but with taste." Other items and their places in the room are described to give one a rather detailed picture of the room. The story is set in the late 19th century and it is probably in Norway. Compared to today, women then had very few rights so they were comparatively the property of their husbands; they received allowances and they could not borrow money without the consent of their husbands'.

The book's central characters are Nora and Torvald Helmer; they live with their three children, a nurse and a housemaid. Their home is like that of a rather typical 19th century middle class home; where the nurse spends a lot of time with the children, the wife does the cooking and shopping, and the man works and is in charge of...