Class XI English

Snapshots

Mother’s Day

Notes

INTRODUCTION

The play ‗Mother‘s Day‘ written by J.B. Priestley is a hilarious drawing room
comedy which reveals the practical experience and status of Annie Pearson, a
devoted wife and doting mother, whose efforts are ignored by her family.

THEME

This humorous play portrays the status of a woman in her household. The
playwright brings out the plight of a wife, who is also a mother, very
realistically in the play. Mrs. Annie Pearson is not treated well by her husband
and children. With the help of her neighbor Mrs. Fitzgerald‘s magic spell which
temporarily allows both the women to interchange their personalities, she stands
up for her rights. Mrs. Annie Pearson‘s family is shocked at the change, but
they learn to behave properly with her so that she gets the respect that she
deserves.

CHARACTERS

Mrs. Fitzgerald: Mrs. Fitzgerald is Mrs. Pearson‘s neighbor. She is quite strong-
willed, experienced and a smart woman. She knows magic which she has earned
from the east and has a strong and sinister personality. She is heavy, has a deep
voice and speaks in Irish accent. She is liberated, strong, dominant and bold.
She also smokes and plays cards. Mrs. Fitzgerald is a domineering lady who
believes in equal status of a mother in a family. She is very angry to hear about
the way Mrs. Pearson's family treats her and decides to put an end to it. She
convinces Mrs. Pearson to exchange their personalities, so that she can
discipline the latter‘s family members in the person of Mrs. Pearson. She is able
to handle Doris, Cyril and George quite intelligently and can be called a well
meaning tyrant.

Annie Pearson: Mrs. Pearson appears to be a meek, timid, confused and nervous
type of woman in her forties. She is a devoted wife and a doting mother whose
unconditional but excessive love and care has spoilt her husband and two
children. She is ignored and made to work throughout the day. In spite of the ill
treatment, neglect and exploitation by her family members, she loves them all.
Although she feels sad about the neglect and ill treatment that she suffers, she
endures everything uncomplainingly. We feel sympathetic towards her and wish
her to be a little more assertive. However, she undergoes transformation in her
personality with Mrs. Fitzgerald‘s help and becomes more assertive towards the
end of the play.

Doris Pearson: Doris Pearson is Mrs. Annie Pearson‘s pretty daughter in her
early twenties. She looks pleasant but is rude and spoilt. She makes her mother
run after her all the time and gives orders to her as if her mother is the servant of
the house. Rather than helping her mother in the household work, Doris asks her
to iron her yellow silk dress. She expects tea to be served to her and is
insensitive towards her mother‘s troubles. She is highly irritated to find her
mother sitting with the cards, smoking and apparently enjoying herself. She
goes out on dates with Charles Spence and expects her mother to support her
meekly. She is surprised and hurt beyond measure on hearing her mother
criticize her boyfriend but at last she learns not to take her mother for granted.

Cyril Pearson: Cyril Pearson is Mrs. Annie Pearson‘s son who is the masculine
counterpart of Doris and is equally demanding like his sister. He is in the habit
of taking his mother for granted and very casually asks her if the tea is ready.
When Mrs. Pearson says 'no', he angrily answers back. He considers his work
very important and believes that he deserves to enjoy his evenings. He makes
his mother run all the time doing one thing or the other for him. Like Doris,
Cyril is also indifferent and insensitive towards his mother and never
sympathizes with her. He expects his mother to be at his beck and call and is
terribly shocked to see her transformed. He rudely calls his neighbor Mrs.
Fitzgerald ‗silly old bag‘ but gets severely rebuked by his transformed mother.
He ultimately learns to behave properly with his mother and give her the respect
that she deserves.

George Pearson: George Pearson is Annie Pearson‘s proud and spoilt husband
who thinks highly of himself. He is about fifty years old. He is fundamentally
decent but solemn, selfimportant, pompous, heavy, and slow-moving type man.
He is an indifferent husband who is predominantly concerned about his own
comfort, ease, and happiness. He spends most of his free time at the club,
hanging around with his friends and playing snooker. Quite ironically, his
friends make fun of him, calling him Pompy-ompy Pearson because they think
he is so slow and pompous. He is shocked at his wife‘s defiant behavior. He is
unable to understand how his erstwhile docile wife has become so critical and
strict with him. Mrs. Fitzgerald‘s soul in Mrs. Pearson‘s body succeeds in
bringing George back on track. At the end we find him a changed husband who
starts caring for his wife.

MESSAGE

Through the play, the playwright J.B. Priestley wants to convey a message that
everyone should respect, care, and help the lady of the house for all the
hardships she does for her family.

DETAILED EXPLANATION

Mrs. Pearson-A Disappointed Woman

Mrs. Pearson is very fond of her family and works day and night to support her
family members in the best possible manner. However, she is upset at the way
she is being treated on a daily basis by her husband and children who are
disrespectful towards her and show disregard for her. They\live a busy social
life and relegate her to the position of a domestic help. She is treated as a slave
in her own home. This creates a sense of frustration and discontentment in Mrs.
Pearson who wants some appreciation and reciprocation from her family. Mrs.
Pearson Shares Her Problem with Mrs. Fitzgerald Mrs. Pearson‘s life takes a
twist when Mrs. Fitzgerald who is a fortune teller and a magician, moves into
her neighborhood. Soon the two become close friends. Mrs. Pearson confides in
Mrs. Fitzgerald and candidly discusses her family matters and the terrible
behavior of her family members with her. Mrs. Fitzgerald Works out a Plan

Mrs. Fitzgerald, a strong and sinister personality, devises a plan to rectify the
ways of the Pearson family. She recommends Mrs. Pearson to exchange her
personality with hers. Mrs. Fitzgerald, in Mrs. Pearson‘s body, would teach a
tough and much-needed lesson in gratitude and humility to the Pearson family.
At first, Mrs. Pearson, docile as she is, doesn‘t agree but after some
encouragement, she is won over and agrees to exchange her personality with
Mrs. Fitzgerald‘s.

Exchange of Personalities
After that, Mrs. Fitzgerald casts a spell and swaps her personality with Mrs.
Pearson. In a matter of seconds, their personalities get exchanged and Mrs.
Pearson, who was calm and composed earlier, can now be seen smoking and
drinking and Mrs. Fitzgerald can be seen sitting poised and inactive.

Doris Gets a Shock Mrs. Fitzgerald is in Mrs. Pearson‘s house and in Mrs.
Pearson‘s body. Mrs. Pearson‘s daughter Doris, a pretty girl in her early
twenties, enters. Doris is the first to face the cool and incisive mother. She
hands her mother a dress and asks her to iron it as she has to go on a date with
her boyfriend Charlie Spence. She is astounded on seeing her mother smoking
and playing cards alone and objects to it. Mrs. Pearson replies in a very harsh
manner and advises her to do her work herself. Further, she makes fun of
Charlie Spence who she says has projecting teeth and behaves stupidly. She
even remarks that at her age she would have found someone better than Charlie
Spence. Doris feels miserable at her mother‘s curt behavior and leaves the
place, weeping. Cyril Gets a Shock After this, her son Cyril enters the house
and asks his mother hurriedly if the tea is ready, to which Mrs. Pearson refuses
and tells him that she has not bothered to get it ready. She even advises him to
prepare it himself. Cyril asks her if everything is all right with her. She replies
that she has never felt better in her life. When Cyril enquires why she has not
got the tea ready, Mrs. Pearson replies that she wanted a change and that‘s why
she has not bothered to make the tea. Cyril announces that he is short of time, so
she should immediately get the tea ready for him. Cyril further enquires whether
she has got his clothes ready. When she says no, he gets anguished. He asks his
mother what will happen if they all begin to talk the way she has been talking
that day. Mrs. Pearson coldly replies that all three of them have always talked to
her like that, so there is nothing wrong with her talking in the same tone. She
adds that she has become a member of the Union so that she gets what she
deserves. Shocked at his mother‘s cold dismissal and seeing his sister crying,
Cyril raises his voice, only to face a raging mother.

The Argument between Doris and Mrs. Pearson

Doris appears on the scene wearing a shoulder wrap. Mrs. Pearson remarks
sarcastically about her dress. An argument starts between Doris and Mrs.
Pearson. Doris comments that if she is looking awful, it is due to her mother
only, who has made her cry. Then Mrs. Pearson enquires if any strong beer is
left. Cyril is shocked to know that his mother wants to drink. He is unable to
understand what is going on in the house.

Discussion between Doris and Cyril

When Mrs. Pearson leaves for the kitchen to fetch some stout for herself, the
children who are shocked at her behavior, wonder what has happened to her.
Doris feels that their mother has got hit on her head by something. She also tells
Cyril that the manner in which mother spoke has hurt her the most and made her
cry. The children begin to giggle at the thought of what would happen if mother
would show such weird behavior in front of their father.

Mrs. Pearson’s Remarks about Her Family

Mrs. Pearson chides the children and asks them to behave like grown-ups. Doris
who is tearful again, asks her mother if they have done something wrong which
has led to a change in her behavior. Mrs. Pearson then tells them that it is
actually the children‘s and their father‘s behaviour that has disturbed her. They
always come and go without bothering about her. They demand duties from her.
Though she does her best to keep everyone happy, nobody is bothered about
her.

She remarks that while the three of them do a job of forty hours a week with
two days off at the

weekend, she goes on working round the clock for seven days. She proclaims
that she would do

some work on Saturday and Sunday only if she is thanked for everything. When
the kids talk

about being exhausted after work, she makes it very clear to both of them that
they will have to

work equally. She even refuses to work on weekends as she would be enjoying
with her friends

from now onwards.

Mrs. Fitzgerald’s Encounter with George

At this point, George Pearson, a solemn, self important and pompous looking
man about fifty,
enters the house. He notices Doris in tears and is bewildered on seeing his wife
drinking and smoking. He tells Mrs. Pearson that he would have supper at the
club and that he does not want tea. Mrs. Pearson informs him that there is no
tea. He gets annoyed to which Mrs. Pearson says that if he does not want tea
why he is fighting for it. She also wryly responds to his disgust on seeing her
drinking by saying that if he can drink, so can she. Mr. Pearson is flabbergasted
at such a conduct of his wife who continues to rebuke him by asking him why
he goes to the club when he is a laughing stock for everyone out there and is
teasingly called Pompy – ompy Pearson by his club companions. George is
stunned and demands the truth from his son. Cyril gets upset at his mother yet
confirms the truth told by his mother, which leaves George

dumbfounded, disappointed and hurt. Mrs. Pearson then tells her son that
sometimes it does

people good to have their feelings hurt.

The Real Mrs. Pearson Returns

Mrs. Fitzgerald who is actually Mrs. Pearson, is at the door and Cyril calls her a
silly, old hag,

hearing which Mrs. Pearson instructs him to mind his language. Mrs. Pearson
who has been turned

into Mrs. Fitzgerald, is shocked to see Doris in tears and when George shouts at
his wife, she

threatens to slap his big, fat and silly face. The real Mrs. Pearson is disturbed by
the manner in

which her husband and children are treated and talks to Mrs. Fitzgerald in
private. She asks Mrs.

Fitzgerald to stop insulting her family. Mrs. Fitzgerald doesn‘t let her speak
until she teaches all of

them a good lesson in respect and honor. As a parting advice, she asks Mrs.
Pearson to be strict in

her looks and tone and not to be too soft on her family again. Soon they get
back into their original
bodies.

Realization by Family Members

The son, daughter, and husband learn their lesson and start supporting Mrs.
Pearson. They have

their dinner together and play a game of rummy. They also resolve to curb their
extraneous social

lives, commit to building stronger bonds with each other and appreciate the toils
and devotion of

Mrs. Pearson for them.

Summary

 The two neighbors, Mrs. Annie Pearson and Mrs. Fitzgerald discuss Mrs.
Pearson‘s

problems.

 Mrs. Fitzgerald suggests Mrs. Pearson to be the boss in her house and not to
meet

everyone‘s demand.

 Mrs. Pearson agrees that her children should treat her properly.

 Mrs. Fitzgerald points out that Mrs. Pearson should not allow her children
and husband to

treat her as a servant as she also has the right to enjoy herself.

 Mrs. Fitzgerald suggests that Mrs. Pearson should temporarily exchange her
personality

with her by using a magic spell which she has learnt in the East.

 A transformation takes place and the personality of Mrs. Fitzgerald shifts

Mrs. Annie Pearson and vice-versa.

 Mrs. Fitzgerald, now in the body of Annie Pearson, stays at Mrs. Pearson‘s
house and
sends Mrs. Pearson, in Mrs. Fitzgerald‘s body, to Mrs. Fitzgerald‘s house.

 When Doris, daughter of Annie Pearson, a pretty girl, aged 20 years, enters
the house,

she observes her mother playing cards and smoking, which horrifies her.

 Her mother refuses to make tea for her or iron her yellow silk dress. Doris is
surprised at

her mother‘s behavior.

 After some time, Cyril, Mrs. Pearson‘s son, gets the same treatment when he
enquires

about his clothes being put out as he has to go again in the evening.

 Mrs. Pearson continues drinking and both her daughter and son are shocked.
They think

that something is certainly wrong with their mother.

 Mrs. Pearson tells them that they are so engrossed in their own activities that
they hardly

care for her. She also informs them of her intention of not doing any household
work on

Saturdays and Sundays.

 George Pearson, Mrs. Pearson‘s husband, comes and finds his daughter
crying. He also

gets shocked at his wife‘s drinking and totally disapproves it.

 George is enlightened by Mrs. Pearson that he is a laughing stock in his

tells him that people call him Pompy-ompy Pearson. George goes out in anger.

 When Cyril objects to his mother about behaving badly with his father, he is
criticized by

his mother.
 Now the real Mrs. Annie Pearson in the body of Mrs. Fitzgerald returns.
George appears

and complains about what is happening in his house to Mrs. Fitzgerald.

 Mrs. Fitzgerald asks George and Doris to leave her and Annie Pearson alone
for some

time, promising that everything is going to be alright.

 When alone, Mrs. Fitzgerald (at present Annie Pearson) chants some magical
words and

their personalities get back into their bodies again.

 After this shock treatment, Annie Pearson‘s family starts giving her more
respect and

attention. They also pay attention to her likes and dislikes.

Vocabulary

portrayal – depiction

living-room – drawing-room

suburb – outlying area of a city

muslin-covered – covered with a muslin curtain

settee – sofa

sinister – strong

flurried – nervous and confused due to overwork

Cockney – style of speaking of people living in the East end of London

Irish – style of speaking of people living in Ireland

fortune teller – person claiming to have magic powers

out East – in the British colonies in Asia

Lieutenant Quartermaster – non-commissioned officer in British Army

put your foot down – be very strict

apologetically – as if feeling sorry

treating ‘em like dirt – showing lack of respect

dubiously – in an unsure manner

unpleasantness – quarrelling

have it out – settle it finally

good gracious – an expression of surprise

embarrassed – feeling awkward

flustered – agitated

got the idea – understood me

gimme – give me

muttering – speaking in a low voice

go lax – looking like they are dead

puffing – smoking

complacently – feeling happy and satisfied

chuckling – laughing quietly

patience – a card game played by a single person

taken anything in – understood what is going on

astounded – surprised

fluttering – unsteady

square meal – full and satisfying meal

the Clarendon – name of a local restaurant

indignantly – with annoyance

rubbish – uselessly
be seen dead – like to be seen

buck teeth – upper set of teeth sticking out

half-witted – stupid

masculine counterpart – brother

off-colour – not feeling well

get cracking – work quickly

aggressively – forcefully

put my things out – lay out my clothes

staggered – shocked

laconic and sinister – briefly and meaningfully

wear that face – look so bad

Union – association of employees

bar – stop

movement – association of employees

never you mind – don‘t bother

stout – strong beer

clot – idiot

in a huddle – come close together to talk

barmy – insane

fathead – idiot

concussion – serious injury to her head

far-fetched – unlikely

giggle – laugh in a silly manner

guffaw – laugh loudly

be your age – behave properly as per your age

do with – appreciate

a bit thick – unreasonable

airily – carelessly

aghast – horrified

passionately – with much emotion

blubbering – crying like a baby

solemn – formal and dignified

pompous – overbearing, self-important

bulge – stick out

fancied – feel a desire for

bewildered – confused, puzzled

distaste – dislike

aggrieved – feeling hurt

indignantly – in a displeased tone

standing jokes – permanent amusements

dazed – totally astonished

appealingly – urgently requesting

gloomily – sadly

greyhound races – races run by tall, slender dogs

dirt tracks – racing courses for motorcycles

ice shows – entertainment shows performed by ice skaters

sulkily – showing an irritated feeling

smacking – bringing together with force so they make a sound

ushering – bringing

piecan – stupid person

severely – strictly

glowering – angry

putting ‘em in their places – making them behave properly

doing ‘em all a world of good – helping them to learn how to behave properly

eating out of your hand – completely under your control

glumly – sadly

crying her eyes out – crying uncontrollably

at sixes and sevens – in total confusion

bitterly – angrily

intimidated – frightened

taunting – teasing

tiddly – slightly drunk

in despair – hopelessly

a flash of temper – sudden anger

ticking her off – reprimanding her

‘cos – because

go soft on – treat gently

spirit – enthusiasm

apprehensively – anxiously

rummy – a card game