Nora is a young mother and wife in late nineteenth-century Norway who initially appears entirely consumed by domestic life and her husband's recent financial success. She spends her time managing the household, playing with her children, and performing a cheerful, child-like persona for her husband. Beneath this carefree exterior, she harbors a significant secret regarding a loan she secured to fund a crucial trip to Italy, which saved her husband's life.

Torvald is Nora's husband, recently promoted to bank manager. He takes immense pride in his new position and the financial security it brings. He views himself as the ultimate protector and moral authority of his household, frequently addressing his wife with diminutive pet names like "little squirrel" and strictly controlling minor details of her life.

Krogstad is an employee at Torvald's bank who also works secretly as a moneylender and journalist. His reputation in town is stained by a past crime involving forgery. Desperate to keep his respectable position at the bank to rehabilitate his public image and support his children, he uses harsh tactics to secure his livelihood.

Kristine is Nora's old school friend who returns to town hoping for a fresh start. Having endured a marriage of convenience to a wealthy man to support her sick mother and two young brothers, she is now a destitute widow. She approaches the Helmers hoping Torvald's new bank position might provide her with clerical work to support herself.

Dr. Rank is a passionate family friend who visits the Helmer household daily. He is secretly suffering from terminal spinal tuberculosis. He observes the Helmer marriage closely but actively avoids discussing his impending death with Torvald to spare his friend's delicate sensibilities regarding illness and mortality.

Anne Marie is the nursemaid for the Helmer family. She previously served as Nora's own childhood nurse. She was forced to give up her own child to take the job caring for Nora years ago, a situation that demonstrates the limited options available to lower-class women in their society.