What period do you think this play is set in? What are some of political and social realities that might be influencing Ibsen when he wrote this play?

Nobody really knows what period this is set in. Most critics feel it reflects the contemporary period of the time it was written in: this would be around 1879. There is definitely a separation of gender expectations and power dynamics. Ironically the lasting power of this play attests to how many of these conflicts still existing in today's society.