Final answer:
Nora Helmer is the character in 'A Doll's House' who challenges traditional roles of wife and mother by leaving her husband and seeking her own identity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The female character in Henrik Ibsen's 1879 play "A Doll's House" who challenged traditional roles of wife and mother is Nora Helmer. Nora seeks her own identity outside the confines of her marriage and societal expectations, which was considered highly controversial at the time. The play is a significant work in the development of realistic drama, and Nora's decision to leave her husband and children was seen as a radical act that sparked much debate regarding women's roles.