Everyone knows how vital her work is. Or at least that's what she tells herself.
-- Narrator (chapter 1)

Importance: At the start of the novel, Nora tries to rationalize her obsessive devotion to her work. She understands how much she does for her firm, and wants to believe that her work is not only seen and appreciated, but that it is vital to the company's operation. This moment illustrates how desperately Nora relies upon her work for self worth. The passage also speaks to the author's explorations regarding gender roles and longing.

She is the safety net. She is the government bailout. She's the default setting.
-- Narrator (chapter 4)

Importance: Nora's struggle to achieve a balance between her work and home life is central to the overarching narrative conflict. In this moment, Nora and Hayden have just had another fight about sharing the household responsibilities. Nora does not know how to productively express her frustrations to her husband...