Mother`s day

1 mark

Why is Mrs. Pearson always ordered about by her Iamily members?

Mrs. Pearson is a docile and submissive mother. She never
asserts herselI. In Iact sheserves the Iamily like a domestic
servant. She never raises her voice and always triesto avoid any
kind oI unpleasantness in the house.


What is the main idea oI the play? Has the writer brought it out
eIIectively?

The writer has very eIIectively brought out the main idea oI the
play. The mother whois the central Iocus oI any Iamily should
be given proper love, care, respect andunderstanding. The
Iamily learnt its lesson in the end and the play has a happy
ending.


2 marks

How are Mrs. Pearson and Fitzgerald contrasted?

Both the ladies are in sharp contrast with each other. While Mrs.
Pearson in passivedocile, submissive and conIused. She is also
timid and soIt spoken. Mrs. Fitzgerald isaggressive, dominating,
sinister and bold. She has a deep voice.


Mrs. Pearson is sick oI being ordered about by her Iamily. Why is she so
hesitantto put her Ioot down?

Mrs. Pearson loves her Iamily a lot. At the same time she gets
dominated by each oI her Iamily members. Her meek and timid
nature prevents her Irom retaliating. Eventhough she drops a
hint here and there, but no one really cares about her. When
her neighbour Mrs. Fitzgerald asks her to be assertive, she
doesn`t have the courage to doso.


How does Mrs. Fitzgerald plan to show the Pearson`s their places?

Mrs. Fitzgerald had learnt some magic during her Iew years stay
in the east. SheoIIers to exchange her personality with Mrs.
Pearson Ior some time. While she willlook like Mrs. Pearson,
she would still be able to use her domineering nature to showthe
Pearson Iamily their place. This plan was a temporary
arrangement.


Who is Charlie Spence? How does Mrs. Pearson talk about him to Doris?

Charlie Spence is Doris`s boyIriend. They had planned an
evening out together. AIter undergoing change in personality
tells Doris that Charlie is dull headed, Ioolish andhas bucked
teeth. She advises her to Iind a better man to go out with.


What plans does Mrs. Pearson have about her work in the Iuture?

Mrs. Pearson declares that she had joined a Mother`s
Movement. She had decided towork Ior only Iorty hours a week
like workers in their places oI work. She would evengo out on
weekends to amuse herselI and take a break Irom the Iamily.


What do Doris and Cyril think about their mother`s sudden change in
thebehaviour?

Both Doris and Cyril are utterly conIused and bewildered at
their mother`s strangebehaviour. They have never seen her
smoking, drinking, playing cards and speakingin such a strange
and sarcastic manner. They think that she has hurt her head and
issuIIering Irom a concussion.


How does the end oI the play justiIy the title?

Mrs. Pearson being a weak person was taken Ior granted by her
Iamily. Theydominated her a lot and did not care Ior her
Ieelings. But in the end she winds when Mrs. Fitzgerald takes
over Ior sometime and is able to get the respect that MrsPearson
deserves. She has her day.



What advice does Mrs. Fitzgerald give Mrs. Pearson regarding being the
boss inher Iamily?

Mrs. Fitzgerald tells Pearson to become the mistress oI her own
house. She should notallow herselI to be dominated by others.
Her Iamily should learn to treat her withrespect.


Why does Doris say Mum what`s the matter with you?`?

Doris returns home to Iind that the mother has not got the tea
ready. Her clothes arenot ironed. The shock comes when the
mother tells her to iron her dress herselI as shewas planning to
go to Clarendon Ior a meal. This behaviour shocked Doris.


How does Mrs. Pearson express her disapproval oI Charlie Spence?

The mother ridiculed Charlie Spence about his buck teeth and
said that he was halI witted. She herselI would have Iound
someone better Ior herselI at Doris` age.


Mrs. Pearson says, ....I`ve joined the movement`. What does she
mean?

Mrs. Pearson says this to Cyril, her son. She told him that just as
he wouldn`t like todo anything that he doesn`t want to do when
he was at work, she too would not doanything iI she didn`t like
to. She would also join the movement oI Union to bar what
she doesn`t want to do.
What is Doris` reaction when Mrs. Pearson says she will work Ior only
Iortyhours a week?

Doris was shocked at the answer. She also wondered where her
mother would goaway Ior the weekend. She thought her mother
had gone crazy because oI an accidentor a hit on the head.


Doris says, you`ll see` to her Iather. What does she mean?

Doris was crying when her Iather returned Irom work. When he
asked her the reason,she spoke these words to tell him about her
mother`s peculiar behaviour. She also toldhim that mother had
reIused to do any work Ior anyone and was also talking rudely.


What does Mrs. Pearson tell her husband about her visit to the bar?

George got a rude shock when his wiIe had not prepared tea Ior
him although he hadIirst said that he hadn`t wanted any. But he
was annoyed when he Iound that teawasn`t ready. She asked
him iI he had ever shouted at the bar Ior not givingsomething he
had not wanted.


What advice does Mrs. Fitzgerald give to Mrs. Pearson aIter they change
back personalities?

She advises Mrs. Pearson not to give any explanations. She tells
her to be assertiveand give them a tough look or a rude tone
occasionally.
How does the Pearson Iamily Iinally spend the evening?

The evening was Iinally spent in the way Mrs. Pearson had
always wanted. Thechildren helped to prepare dinner. She could
play rummy and chat with her husband.She was a happy and
contented woman now.


This is a humorous play with many humorous situations. Which situation
didyou enjoy most?

The play indeed is very humorous. But the Iunniest moment was
when Mrs. Pearson(or Mrs. Fitzgerald) insults and humiliates
her husband George by telling him whatthey thought oI him at
the club. She even told him the nickname 'Pompy -
OmpyPearson', with which he was called at the club, behind his
back.


7 marks

Bring out the humour oI the play.

The dramatist has combined a serious theme with some comical
concept oI the magictrick which ensures that the theme oI the
play is eIIective in a very humorous manner.Despite being a
sinister and aggressive character, Mrs. Fitzgerald is the one
thatevokes maximum laughter. The way in which she scolds
rebukes and mocks at eachIamily member is an eIIective source
oI laughter. When she assumes Mrs. Pearson`sIorm and
challenges the children with sarcasm and bitter jest, the two rude
anddemanding children are Iorced to mend their ways. Her
clever remarks and indignantout burst provide an element oI
humour throughout the play. During her conversationwith
George Pearson, she is harsh and oIIensive towards him. It is
amusing in the wayshe reprimands a grown man. It is even more
amusing as she points out Ilaws in eachoI the Iamily members.
All in all the deeper meaning oI the play has been
displayedthrough humour making it not only moralistic but
entertaining as well.


Mrs. Annie Pearson and Mrs. Fitzgerald are totally opposite to each other
intheir attitudes. Show the diIIerence between their personalities.

The play Mother`s Day` by J.B Priestley brings out a sharp
contrast in the charactersoI the two main protagonists, Mrs.
Pearson and Mrs. Fitzgerald. Mrs. Pearson isshown as a quiet,
submissive woman who thinks it to be her prime duty to serve
her Iamily. On the other hand, her Iamily consists oI rude,
arrogant and dominatingmembers each oI whom treat her like a
servant, ordering her about and talking rudelyin the process
hurting her sentiments and Ieelings. Mrs. Pearson suIIers
quietly, never speaks her mind and never retaliates all because
she wants to avoid any kind oI unpleasantness. Mrs. Fitzgerald,
on the other hand is strong, domineering, Irank andoutspoken.
She demands respect and takes pride in the Iact that no one can
take her Ior a ride. She has an identity oI her own, speaks her
mind and asserts herselI. She isinstrumental in bringing about a
transIormation in the Iamily members oI the PearsonIamily. She
exchanges her personality with Pearson with the help oI magic
and thentackles her Iamily members one by one. She openly
insults, humiliates and oIIendsthem. She reIuses to do any work.
She rebels by smoking and drinking. All this wasdone to make
them realise their mistakes and make them love and respect
their mother. She succeeds in the end.


Why did Mrs. Pearson made certain choices or took certain actions?

Mrs. Pearson took certain choices or actions..... coz all the
Iamily members oI her Iamily was getting out oI control...!!
moreover they were neither respecting her nor have any sort oI
pathos Ior her they were only interested Ior getting their work
done!!



Summary


This humorous and satirical depiction oI a mother`s status in a
Iamily was written wayback in 1950 and till date stands quite
true in cases oI house wives. Unless and untilshe Iights back Ior
her rights her contribution is not recognized in the Iamily.
Thecharacters in this play are Mrs. Annie Pearson (the mother);
husband Mr. GeorgePearson., son Cyril, daughter Doris and the
neighbour Mrs. Fitzgerald. Mrs.Fitzgerald knows tarot card
reading which she had learnt while she was living in theeast
with her husband. She Iinds out that Mrs. Pearson does not get
the due respect she should get Irom her Iamily and advices her
to take strong steps to be the mistress oI her own house . Though
Mrs. Pearson doubted herselI iI she will be able to Iollowher
advice. She didn`t want any unpleasantness in her house .More
over she didn`tknow when or how to put her point. Mrs
Fitzgerald advised her to start that very daybut Mrs. Pearson was
reluctant as she won`t be able to keep her promise.
Mrs.Fitzgerald had an excellent idea. As she had learnt many
magic in the east, she canchange place with Mrs. Pearson i.e.
Mrs. Pearson will have Mrs. Fitzgeralds mindand vice versa.
They both held hands and sat on the table quietly. Mrs.
Fitzgeraldenchanted some magic words and their minds got
exchanged. AIter Mrs. Fitzgeraldwith Mrs. Pearson`s mind
leaves Ior her house Doris arrives and sees s her
mother smoking. She is shocked. She has an argument with her
as now all oI a sudden her mother is not ready to iron her dresses
Ior the evening or prepare tea or even supper.Doris was horriIied
at her mother`s attitude and runs away crying. AIter
sometimeCyril appears Irom work and he too is Ilatly denied
when he asks Ior tea. Cyril wasalarmed and asks iI she was
Ieeling well or not? Then Mrs. Pearson takes out a bottleoI stout
and drinks. Both the siblings are astonished and start wondering
iI she has hada Iall or hit her head. Now Mr. Person arrive and
all three start complaining about teanot being ready as they had
worked so hard Ior eight hours. to this Mrs. Pearson saysthat
Irom that very moment she would also work Ior only eight hours
a day andweekends oII. Mr Pearson gets angry and get ready Ior
club when Mrs. Pearson tellhim that people at the club call him
Pompy Ompy Pearson and laughs at him. Hebecomes very sad.
Now Mrs. Fitzgerald with Mrs. Pearson`s mind enters the
houseand seeing everyone sad asks to leave Mrs. Pearson and
her alone Ior a Iew minutesand may be everything will be all
right. On being alone Mrs. Fitzgerald enchantssome magic
words and again their bodies get back their mind but now Mrs.
PearsonsIamily give her more respect and considers her likes
and dislikes also.


JustiIy the title

It is appropriate because

It highlights the mother`s role in a Iamily even when the
children are grownup.
She is taken Ior granted.
Shows how mother`s importance is re-established.
That a women has some rights in the Iamily.
Her husband & children should share her work .
The value oI her work should be recognized.
She has an important status in the Iamily.
Points.
Mrs. Fitzgerald tells Mrs. Pearson to be the mistress in her own
house.
Put her Ioot down be the boss oI her Iamily.
The Iamily should learn to treat her properly.